Cream Peas on Toast: Comfort Food for Norwegian-Lutheran Farm Kids (And Others)

Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Comfort Food
Review: Well, ja. These women do write better the longer they do this, then. The Martin/Nelson collaboration is funnier - and not as strained - in their later books, (see They Glorified Mary... We Glorified Rice.) But this book is still pretty good. ("Pretty good" meaning "really good" in the self-effacing vernacular of the hardy populace.)

For the unfortunate few unfamiliar with the delicacy, the authors include variations of the basic recipe for Cream ("The correct way to say this is probably 'Cream*ed' Peas on Toast, but the 'ed' is silent like the 'p' in pneumonia") Peas on Toast. And note that: "One Thing that maybe made Cream Peas on Toast Special was that it was always Served on Town (Boughten) Bread. There was a Practical reason for this, too. Homemade Bread didn't fit so well in the Flip-Down-the-Sides Toasters. (See cover photo.) Topped with a Dish of Sauce for Dessert, this Meal was as close to Heaven as most thought they could get here on Earth." Oh, ja, then, and speaking of Heaven and Earth, there is also a 'Pea-in-cheek' explanation of the significance of Peas to Martin Luther and his Protestant Reformation.

Cream Peas on Toast can be the Full Nutritious Meal Deal:
"Grains and Cereals in the Bread Portion,
Dairy from the Cream Portion,
Green Vegetables in the form of Peas
[and] ... if ... Served...with a Side of Spam and some Rhubarb Sauce [there you] have a complete Meal."

In the Beginning, the authors write "A Note ... To Our Former Teachers: In case any of you are reading this Handy Dandy Book, we would like to explain that you taught us well - especially grammar. However, in keeping with the Tradition of many of our general readers and Relatives, you will find that the important words ... are capitalized. These are Comfort words like Services, Congregation, Bread; words for White Foods or things that come from a Cow, words related to God, Religion, Country, ... words for staples such as Lard or Fat ... Moral Decay, Hot as in Hot Meal, Wholesome Wife, Normal, ... 'Puttin'Up,' and 'Makin'Do,' ... The Mrs., The Wife, ... Snow, Prairie." This gentle Minnesota reader found the style somewhat disconcerting - like someone SHOUTING AT ME ONLINE! Being a congregant of the "Minnesota Nice" Synod, all this Shouting makes me uncomfortable.

Also included are nice surprise bonuses - like "A Kryssord for N-LFK's." But the Crossword, and the book, are fun for all. As the full title says, this is "Comfort Food for Norwegian-Lutheran Farm Kids (and Others.) Enjoy!