Succotash (from Narragansett sohquttahhash, "broken corn kernels") is a culinary dish consisting primarily of sweet corn with lima beans or other shell beans.  Other ingredients may be added including corned beef, potatoes, turnips, salt pork, tomatoes, multi-colored sweet peppers, and okra.  Combining a grain with a legume provides a dish that is high in all essential amino acids.  Succotash is a dish with a long history.  The stew was introduced to the colonists in the 17th century by indigenous Americans.  Composed of ingredients unknown in Europe at the time, it gradually became a standard meal in the cuisine of New England and is a traditional dish of many Thanksgiving celebrations in the region, as well as in Pennsylvania and other states.  In some parts of the American South, any mixture of vegetables prepared with lima beans and topped with lard or butter is called succotash.  Corn (maize), American beans, tomatoes, and peppers are New World foods.  Catherine Beecher's 19th-century recipe includes beans boiled with corn cobs from which the kernels have been removed.  The kernels are added later, after the beans have boiled for several hours.  The corn cobs are removed and the finished stew, in proportions of 2 parts corn to 1 part beans, is thickened with flour.  Henry Ward Beecher's recipe, published in an 1846 issue of Western Farmer and Gardner, adds salt pork, which he says is "an essential part of the affair."  Sylvester the Cat's trademark exclamation is "Sufferin' succotash!"  See pictures at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succotash 

Long before I had an appreciation for succotash, I was familiar with Sylvester the Cat’s catch phrase, “Sufferin’ succotash”.  The phrase rated highly in my juvenile world of cartoon character’s catch phrases.   It shared a prominent spot with Snagglepuss’  “Heavens to Mergatroid” and Daffy Duck’s “You’re desthpicable”.   Ahhhhh . . . the cartoons of my youth!  Jackie Garvin  Find recipe at https://syrupandbiscuits.com/recipe-succotash/ 

Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum   As visitors make their trek to the historic Rocky Ridge Farm, the first sight they’ll see is Laura’s and Almanzo’s beloved farmhouse.  It remains as it was in 1957 and stands as an official project of the Save America’s Treasures National Trust for Historical Preservation.  Laura, Almanzo and daughter, Rose, arrived in Mansfield, Missouri from South Dakota, August 30, 1894.  They purchased a forty-acre farm, which had a one-room log cabin near the spring and ravine.  After living in the log cabin through the first winter they built a room onto the side of it in the spring of 1895.  The next spring (1896) they moved the new room to the present historic house location, where it is now the kitchen.  A second room, with an attic space above it, was added to create a two-room house with an attic bedroom for Rose.  It took 17 years from the time they moved the room to when the home was finished in 1913.  They lived in a small house in the town of Mansfield from about 1898- 1911.  Part of the serene charm of Rocky Ridge Farm is taking time to relax and enjoy its beautiful natural setting.  The Wilder Family Walking Trail has always been a way for visitors to immerse themselves in this experience.  One can only imagine the conversations that took place between Laura, Almanzo and Rose or feel they’re walking the pages of history.  The trail was originally used by the Wilders as passage between the Farmhouse and the Rock House--Laura and Almanzo’s second home.   Rose Wilder Lane, the Wilders’ only daughter, was a successful author in her own right.  She went on to pursue her career outside of the small town of Mansfield, but eventually returned to her roots on Rocky Ridge Farm.  Upon her return in 1928, Rose had a house built with modern conveniences as a gift to her parents.  Laura and Almanzo moved in at Christmas time that very same year.  It became known as the Rock House because of its custom rock masonry siding.  Following some encouragement from Rose, Laura began writing down childhood memories that would forever capture her amazing history and the pioneering life she had lived.  It was in the Rock House that Laura, at 65 years young, wrote the first four Little House books.  Visitors can tour the beautifully-restored Rock House on Rocky Ridge Farm and learn of its unique building secrets.  Laura and Almanzo lived in this home until 1936, when they finally returned to their beloved farmhouse.  Find pictures and location and hours of the museum at https://lauraingallswilderhome.com/lauras-homes-on-rocky-ridge/ 

The National Book Foundation (NBF) announced on September 8, 2021 that Nancy Pearl, a renowned librarian and former executive director of the Washington Center for the Book at Seattle Public Library, is the 2021 recipient of its Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community.  Ron Charles of the Washington Post will present the award at the 72nd National Book Awards Ceremony on November 17, 2021.  For 17 years, this award for lifetime achievement has been presented to an individual who has expanded the audience for books and reading through outstanding service across the United States.  Past winners include Dr. Maya Angelou and James Patterson.  Recipients receive $10,000 and a medal.  Pearl earned her Master of Library Science from the University of Michigan.  She worked in public libraries for almost four decades in Detroit; Tulsa, OK; and Seattle, and briefly as a bookseller in Tulsa.  While serving at the Washington Center for the Book in 1998, she initiated the citywide discussion, “If All Seattle Read the Same Book” (now known as “Seattle Reads”).  The program has been replicated across the United States and globally as One Book, One City programs.  Pearl has also been instrumental in the development of readers’ advisory services, having served on several important book award committees, developed the “doorway” explanation of appeal, and penned the “Book Lust” books, a bestselling series of book recommendations that has expanded to a monthly television show with author interviews, Book Lust with Nancy Pearl on KWGA, an NPR station based in Tulsa.  Anita Mechler  https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detailStory=Nancy-Pearl-Receives-National-Book-Foundations-2021-Literarian-Award-for-Outstanding-Service 

ground zero (countable and uncountable, plural ground zeroes)  Originally, the point on the land or water surface below which a nuclear bomb detonates in the air; now also the point on such a surface at or above the detonation.  quotations ▼ (by extension) The location of any disaster or violent assault.  (figuratively) The point at which something begins.  Alternative forms:  ground-zeron, Hypernyms, epicenter, epicentre, hypocenter, hypocentre.  Etymology:  From ground +‎ zero, first attested in a June 1946 a report by the United States Strategic Bombing Survey.  “Zero” was used one year earlier as the code name for location of Trinity--the first detonation of a nuclear weapon.  https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ground_zero#English 

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.  The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15.  It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.  The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.  In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively.  Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.  Link to other resources at https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/ 

Culantro is an herb that has a similar aroma and flavor to cilantro, but they are not the same plant.  It has long, serrated leaves and looks a bit like long-leafed lettuce.  Culantro has a stronger flavor than cilantro and is therefore used in smaller amounts.  Unlike cilantro, it can be added during cooking rather than afterward.  You will find culantro specified in recipes for dishes from the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Asia.  Peggy Trowbridge Filippone  https://www.thespruceeats.com/is-culantro-the-same-as-cilantro-1807011 

http://librariansmuse.blogspot.com  Issue 2420  September 13, 2021