Cut the Cheese

When it comes to comfort food for a Southerner there is one common denominator and that is Cheese! Cheese is the one thing that every country on every continent produces in one form or another. I am a full blown fanatic over cheese. I like all types of cheese and do not discriminate even when it comes to Yankee Cheese. I have a close friend that lives at Long Island, NY. One day he shared with me the types of food they eat in the North. Sent me a Care package of sorts. It included several types of cheese that I had never heard of or tasted. Can't remember on but it was delicious and kind of crumbly like Parmesan. We use cheese in every way possible. I was talking to the Queen Mother(Mom) and she started a cheese list much like Bubba did with Shrimp in the movie "Forrest Gump". So I thought I would give the good old college try. Now you got types of cheeses like American Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Mild Cheddar, Colby, Cream, Government, Monterey Jack, Muenster (always thought of Herman Munster when I heard this), Blue Cheese, Pepper Jack, Provolone, Swiss, Can Cheese, String Mozzarella, and so on. I could go on but I think you get the idea. Things that you do with cheese or put cheese on is unlimited. Every time I eat an omelette the put on a slice of American Cheese. Cheese can go on things such as Broccoli, Macaroni(my personal favorite). You can have toasted cheese or cheese toast. Some folks like to melt their cheese and dip their bread in it and give it a Hippie name called "Fondue". Reason I call it hippie is cause I remember those fellers on TV selling them "Fondue" cookers when I was kid! We would just put a slice of cheese on a piece of bread and toast it in the oven. It was good even after you burned your lips or tongue on that hot cheese. The one cheese that is a processed cheese would be Velveeta! Man that stuff is real good. You want to get info out of me and my brother just offer us some Velveeta and we will tell you where Jimmy Hoffa's buried. People love to cover their French Fries with cheese. One thing about all this cheese! You got to be careful and eat it in moderation! Too much of a good thing can be bad for you and too much cheese will just stay with you for a while! I haven't mentioned cheese on Pizza yet have I? There's a whole new critter there. That Mozzarella on that Pizza along with Provolone, Cheddar and Parmesan are the ticket! As you can see there are way more uses to cheese that I haven't mentioned. It's what holds the world together whether it be Goat or Cow Cheese! Until next time we talk remember Someone's got to cut the cheese! Stan the Ramblin Man

Uncle Reuban

Uncle Reuben When I look back on my life there are a handful of men that helped shape the person I am in some way or other. One of those men was Reuben Chapman. Reuben was married to my Mom's sister Clara. She was from a small town in the North Carolina High Country called Montezuma. Reuben was from Wisconsin. When I got to this planet our family lived within a few blocks of Clara and Reuben. They had four girls and one boy. Uncle Reuben was a truck driver and was always gone it seemed like. When he was around he was a hoot. He would tell stories about driving his truck and about wrecks he had seen on the way. He had a big loud laugh that was contagious. Uncle Reuben went on to be with the Lord this week after a battle with poor health. He is with his Clara now walkin hand in hand with Jesus. As a toddler I got to watch old movies with my Dad. One of the main characters back then was Robert Mitchem. I was confused cause I thought Uncle Reuben and Robert Mitchem were the same person. He also had that John Wayne presence about him. He was tall and wore jeans all the time except to church. As our family would visit he would entertain us by getting out his electric guitar and play a few country and gospel tunes. My mother's side of the family seems to be blessed with musicians and when they gathered everyone would get out their guitars, banjos, jews harp, and keyboards. Uncle Reuben would play a song about either a truck or a train wreck called "Old 99" I believe. Uncle Earl Hartley would play the harmonica and sing, Cuzzins Danny, Vick, Larry, Dwight and David would all pitch in to make a wonderful sound. Those were the days we yearn for. Uncle Reuben was my golf buddy. Every chance we got over the years we would sneak off and play a round. He loved the Lord and his family. His son Jamie was his "boy"! He would talk of him so proudly and at the same time they would clash cause Jamie is a clone of his Dad. He loved his girls and loved to be around them like a good father would want to be. I hope I can have a wonderful relationship with my daughter and grand kids like he did. I will miss my golfing buddy as he now is walking those streets of Gold with his Clara and his Jesus. I hope he has picked out a good course to play when I get there. Stan The Ramblin Man