A Family Affair

We have wonderful neighbors, the kind of neighbors you imagine people those 1950s and 1960s tv shows--generous, friendly, caring, always fully stocked with cups of sugar, and ready to keep an eye on your kids--but also down-to-earth, hysterically funny, and dedicated fans of Desperate Housewives. We've only been in the neighborhood for a few years while these families remember the births of babies now entering later grade school. They've all grown up together, kids and parents. But despite our being the new moms on the block--mind you, we're the only lesbians for at least, well, a block (there are "family" families both east and west by about a block), and no one seems to care (except a couple of the kids who are just curious--is DP a boy? where's the daddy? It's good practice for us)--they've always included us in such get-togethers. Which has always meant a great deal to us.

Actually, they're the kind of neighbors I grew up with. We had a gang of about 6 families, all with kids within 3-5 years of each other. We'd run between all the backyards from after school to after dinner. And on weekends, our parents would congregate in a yard for a crawfish boil or a barbecue (this was Texas, not Connecticut, so the food was different). We rode carpools to school together, went on field trips and also vacations, later attended weddings and now, unfortunately, even some funerals. But it's been 30 years and, even though the families have dispersed to new neighborhoods, the old one still exists for us all psychically. To have found such a place for my own children is the very reason we gave up NYC for the 'burbs. Yards with picket fences and the friendly neighbors on the other side.

Today was the Labor Day picnic. And we had a wonderful time! For the first time, the kiddos weren't particularly clingy (and neither were we)--they had a field day jumping on the trampoline, even with the older, bouncier boys. They also liked exploring a different swingset, complete with horse glider and monkey bars. And managed to eat a whole pile of things--corn, chicken drumsticks, hamburgers, corn chips, salsa, cherry tomatoes. Though, not surprisingly, they didn't eat my baked beans. DD has a thing about beans right now. Ick.

But I include the recipe here anyway. It's my mom's recipe and my favorite way to eat baked beans. Perfect for any picnic. And perhaps, one of these years, we'll host.

Baked Beans
Often served with BBQ, this oh-so-sweet side dish is bubbling goodness! Mom’s note (10/01): “Not all recipes have bell pepper. Friend of D-- and E--served this and Pop really liked it.”

4 slices bacon
½ cup chopped onion
2-1 lb. can Pork and Beans
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon mustard
1 teaspoon ketchup
chopped bell pepper

Cook bacon until crisp, drain and crumble. In 2 tablespoons of drippings cook onion and bell pepper unil tender but not brown. Add with bacon to beans and other, mixing well. Put in 1 ½ quart casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 40-45 minutes.

Mom