As I thought back to all the strange items I ate growing up from early on, I had to question in my mind, would the next generation even taste what I ate back then. I know I tried a few of those foods on my children and had little success. Today would probably be none.

One ate what was available and provided by gardening, farm products and whatever could be used for food items. Few items purchased at stores except the necessary staples, such as flour, tea, coffee and sometimes macaroni were used.

A baked heart or tongue laying on a platter would chill my bones. I can still hear my dad telling me nothing beat a piece of cold slice tongue on crackers. Then he might splurge at Christmas and buy some fresh oysters for oyster soup. Ham hocks and neck bones often were used as a supplement to meals with beans and potatoes. When a pig or cow was butchered from the farm, every last item was used, from having scramble eggs with brains, head cheese in some Jello cover-up, Jowl meat fried like bacon and tough to chew and the famous ox tail stew was served. I cooked it one time for my husband, and never again. I do remember the brain sandwiches Wade’s served at the drive-in at St. Joseph. And I will admit I finally learned to enjoy them.

Homemade bread, butter and even Mom’s delicious cottage cheese, which took a lot of effort, became favorites. I can also remember when dad brought home the first jar of pickled pig’s feet and wanted me to taste them. The new liverwurst roll was his next selection. Then the first roll of bologna lunch meat came homeward to the refrigerator. You know the list could go on an on, but from the animal line and garden supplies one never went hungry. Just don’t look at some things when eating and then you can swallow it.

Kathryn Lambright

Cameron, Mo.