What you don’t know won’t hurt ya….

My Aunt Edna related this story to me and it was confirmed by my Dad. When they were young they lived about 4 or 5 miles southeast of Gildford on land called the “Hatch Place.” They were very “Hard Up” which in Montana speak means they were damned poor. Yes, they walked to school the 4 or 5 miles and if they were lucky they rode an old wagon with a horse pulling it. They had a lot of chores to do and all of them worked. They had very little food and it was rationed out.

My Aunt’s job was to cook this particular day and the only thing left to eat in the cupboard were beans and some Bisquick for biscuits. When she looked at the Bisquik she discovered mouse poop. What to do?  She quickly sifted out the mouse droppings and made biscuits and beans. No, she did not tell anyone for years afterwards and no she did not eat biscuits that particular day.

I am reminded of my first time cooking a turkey. I had joined an organization that put on a Thanksgiving dinner for its members and I had been appointed to cook a turkey. Of course I said I could do it and didn’t relate I had no idea what the hell I was doing.  How hard could it be, I thought. I bought the biggest bird I could fit into the oven and thawed it out. I put some butter on it and put it on a metal tray and popped it into stove. Of course, I didn’t ask or read about how things should be done, I didn’t want to appear stupid.