Craving Fred's Food!

This morning it was again a glorious fifty six degrees.  I know everyone thinks, that's not cold, it isn't. By Florida standards, its chilly, its Fall and it is, OH SO LOVELY!  Today the temperature will cap out at eighty five degrees, with a northerly wind and no humidity.  This is paradise!  Although I am going to work and closing my location tonight, I won't be home until two in the morning, the drive home will be quiet, cool, relaxing, giving me a chance to wind down after a busy day.

This morning we were talking to a friend from Connecticut, he mentioned, "almost time for your Beef Stew!"  Absolutely!   Took some stew meat from the freezer, will make it tomorrow, it then has to sit for a day, allowing all the ingredients to DO THEIR THING!  The finished pot of stew is oh so scrumptious!  A definite favorite at Fred's News.  November of every other year was an election year in the Town of Sprague.  Fred's News provided the meals for the poll workers,  The unanimous choice,  always FRED'S NEWS FAMOUS BEEF STEW for lunch, then grinders (subs, hoagie, torpedoes) for the supper hour.

Actually stews and soups of all kinds were always one of the daily specials at Fred's.  Never knew what the concoction would be, but always delicious.  Recently were were talking with neighbors, many of whom come from the upper Midwest.  During the cool weather in their part of the country they too enjoy comfort foods such as homemade soups and stew.  We joked about Friday's at Fred's News, always being Clam Chowder......mostly they look at me, totally wondering, "how the hell anyone can get excited about clam chowder?"  I guess you have to have lived in the coastal areas of this vast country to really crave and enjoy seafood.  My sister Patty, now living in Arizona, totally craves seafood, especially from the New England waters.  I must confess, I feel the same way.  Here in Florida we get lots of seafood, it's great, but doesn't even begin to rival Friday fish and chips with a bowl of clam chowder.  At Fred's, it didn't matter the type of chowder we served, New England with the cream base, Manhattan, loaded with fresh tomatoes, the Egg-Nazi's favorite or just plain clear broth chowder chucked full of minced clams, soft potatoes, onions and bacon, my favorite.  Yeah, after this conversation with the neighbors from Michigan and Wisconsin, they do not get it.  In all fairness, I guess I'm not a born Cheese-head either.