Feature Story

Life Lessons from Dr. B, Queens, Bishops, Rooks, and Knights

By Steven Ward

Jeff Bulington is teaching Franklin County students life lessons via chess

Full Feature Story
Stories & Columns

Scene Around The ‘Sip

On The Menu

The Farmhouse Kitchen: The madness of March

By Vicki Leach

March seems to be ‘that month.’ The month that wouldn’t go for just having one or two things we could look forward to, but ALL the things, and all at the same time. Spring will spring, the Easter Bunny will make his rounds, and little green leprechauns and shamrocks will show up on school bulletin boards. Some of us will wear green for good luck, and to prevent getting pinched. We also have no idea if we’re entering monsoon season in Mississippi, where it will rain buckets for days on end; if we’ll get all the snow and ice that we wished for in January (we actually did this year), or if it’ll be hot as blue blazes. Some call March the month of madness and it seems for good reason (and, lest we forget, March Madness means basketball, too). Things are all over the place. Do you get visions of Mad Hatters and crazy tea parties, and white rabbits, and little girls who fall through looking glasses? For some reason, I do.

So, when I sat down to write a little blurb about the recipes I had rolling around in my head, I couldn’t think of a thing to make them all match up — to give them a March theme if you will. They LOOK like they are all over the place, too. So, in true mother form, I had a conversation with my youngest daughter, and she, in true last-child form, reminded me that we celebrate two birthdays in March — hers and one of her brothers. Make it about them. Bingo! Just a couple of my family favorites in honor of a couple of my family favorites.

The hamburger casserole is what we call Shepherd’s Pie around here. Classically, a dish made with lamb, this one is made with ground beef. Cottage Pie is a better name fit. A weekly rotation favorite for years when my kids were little, the dish can be put together in 10 minutes. Bake for 25 minutes and its dinner. The Frozen Fruit Salad came from the Magnolia Room at Rich’s in downtown Atlanta. This Georgia girl has had this one in her arsenal for decades. A perfect ‘Lady’s that Lunch’ dish that looks so pretty on those springtime salad plates, canned fruit makes it family friendly, and an easy dish to throw together. Cupcake papers make for a fun serving, but unwrapped or scooped into pretty little dishes make it special. And finally, Earthquake Cake is about the only cake that I can guarantee my husband will eat on the daily until every crumb is gone. Never mind being a kid favorite; I’ve never met a grown-up who didn’t love it.

Soon the long lazy days of summer will try to bake us to a crisp. Maybe a little March Madness is just what our souls, and tummies need.

In The Magazine

My Opinion

What’s Mississippi to you?

What do you treasure most about life in our state? Send your brief thoughts to us by email or mail. Submit your beautiful digital photo of life in Mississippi via email.

More Opinions