The kitchen is closed on our gravel road today because the man of steel and I are going out to eat to celebrate our 37th wedding anniversary. This recipe for baked beans, a popular summer side dish, comes from my cousin Gary. I haven’t tried it yet (the man of steel isn’t a big bean lover), but want to take the dish to a potluck meal soon.
Cousin Gary’s Baked Beans
1- 28 oz can Van Camps’ Old Fashioned Baked Beans, Sweet Hickory and Bacon
1- 21 oz can of apple pie filling
2 tablespoons of mild molasses
¼ cup brown sugar
1 cup walnuts
Pour beans into a large microwavable bowl.Place apple pie filling into a flat bottom bowl and chop apples into smaller pieces. Stir apple pie filling into beans. Chop walnuts into medium to fine pieces, depending on your preference. Add chopped walnuts, molasses, and brown sugar to bean/apple mixture.
Microwave on high for 10 minutes. Stir. Microwave on high for 10 more minutes. Cook longer for thicker beans.
36 years ago today, Hiram and I were…
Sitting on the second raft at the Le Mars sandpit cultivating sunburns,
Hangin’ with Hiram’s twin brother, his wife, and their baby son,
Shucking sweet corn for wedding rehearsal supper at Mom’s,
Practicing our vows and getting ready to begin our marriage,
Grateful God brought us.
Today, we are…
Toting umbrellas and wearing raincoats and sweaters to explore Kodiak, Alaska,
Hanging with Hiram’s twin brother and his wife, sharing pictures of our grandkids,
Fixing salmon for our final meal together on the island,
Ready to honor our vows for however many more years God grants to us,
More grateful than ever to have met at college all those years ago.
Yesterday, Hiram and I celebrated our 35th anniversary with a second post-op visit to the surgeon’s office and then lunch out afterwards. Maybe that doesn’t sound like much by today’s mega-party standards, but we enjoyed our celebration thoroughly. Here are the top ten reasons why:
10. We could have gone dancing if we’d felt so inclined ’cause we can both still dance.
9. The doctor said Hiram can go back to work, so yesterday was his last day of being footloose and fancy free.
8. Sometimes, when we tell people we’ve been married 35 years, they say we don’t look old enough.
7. Middle-aged lovers aren’t as gorgeous as young lovers, but they’re less angst-ridden and require less energy to be around.
6. The outpouring of God’s grace that enabled us to stay married 35 years shouts, “PARTYTIME!”
5. We still like being together.
4. Baby Milo or Shiloh Philo*
3. Anne and Kailen*
2. Allen and Abbey*
1. Our marriage has lasted 35 loving, stressful, challenging, adventurous years.
*The order of items 2 – 4 is interchangeable.
What is being celebrated at your house in July? Why is your celebration worth having? Leave a comment!
