Guest blogger Navied Mahdavian on How to fight with the people we care about, illustrated

 

 WOW! 
Yes WOW!!!!
"Some of my best friends are people who started out as foes."

_ A voice in the Wind

 

 

 

 

How to fight with the people we care about, illustrated

September 9, 20265:01 AM ET

By 

Navied Mahdavian

, 

Marielle Segarra

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Want more intimacy in your relationships? Conflict could help.

Should we argue with the people we love? For Priya Parker, author of a book published in September, The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict, the answer is yes.

While many people dread conflict, it's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's necessary if we want to be in close, authentic relationships, says Parker. So when you have a moment of misalignment with someone, try thinking of it as a signal. There's something here to talk about.

"We assume if the heat is rising, this must be bad. But the reframe is that there's something relevant here. I should pay attention," she says.

Parker, who has been a conflict resolution facilitator for 20 years, shares advice about common questions you may have about getting into fights — whether that's with a partner, a family member or a friend.

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian for NPR

Navied Mahdavian is a New Yorker cartoonist and the author of the graphic memoir This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America.

 

Is Soup season back already? Grandma's Kitchen

 

 

Rained all night the wind was almost cold, this morning dawned very gray. It feels like late October!
The trees are still green,there are still ripening tomatoes on the vine, and the pumpkins haven't started to ripen yet!   This has be wondering, OK worrying.   But weather, as my readers know is a bit different, just enough to notice ,here in the Piney Woods

 

Unless i have something planned for dinner each day, i don't have a plan for  dinner, i always ask what everyone wants.   They seldom agree.  I should have known, but today was different.  Just knew that the answer would be soup or stew.  Yup! should have known. 

My feeling is that soups and stews are meant to warm body, soul and mood.  Also that leftovers, family approved ingredients and occasionally gourmet touches, can be part of a great pot of soup or stew.   If you add too many left overs, well someone is going to notice.   Even if you try to disguise it with a bit of  your own creativity.

 

Ingredients

• 3 pounds beef stew meat
• 2 - 14 ounce cans beef stock
• 2 1/2 cups celery diced
• 1 medium onion chopped
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup corn starch dissolved in 1/4 water
• 2 - 12 ounce packages of Reames Frozen Home style Egg Noodles

Instructions

• To a pan over medium heat add beef, beef stock, celery, and onion. Generously salt and pepper.
• Cover and simmer for about an hour, until meat and veggies are tender. Stirring occasionally.
• While meat cooks, prepare your egg noodles per the package instructions. Or make your own homemade egg noodles.
• When the meat is tender, add corn starch/water mixture and stir, the sauce will thicken in just a few minutes.
• Drain and add the noodles, combine with meat mixture.
• I love mine just like it is, but my hubby tops it with sour cream!

 

 

,

 
I was handed this recipe, and have no idea who wrote it, but it looks good.   And remember that you can always make it your own version with some omissions and or additions.   

 

Happy stirring! 

 

 

 

best of the harvestt, a haiku

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OH!, MY VERY HEART !

ALL DEPENDS ON THE WEATHER

SWEAT, OR SOUR   

Town Yard Sale day ramble

 I  once got lost, in a small town!!!  and liked it.. 

 Time was i drove thru  a picturesque little town every day on my way to and from work, often stopped at the  family run grocery, or the hardware store run  by a man who was well past eighty,  drugstore, which was run a a man who was a philosopher, a very serious man with the mos wickedly funny sense of humor you get the idea he was living the  words "Laughter is the best medicine".  

Well now didn't this little town know how to get my attention and that of many other's. by having  a town-wide Yard Sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was a very good reason to wander thru the streets . Of course i was looking for good stuff to buy, but that doesn't happen every time one goes "yard-sailing"and this was one of those days.  All i found was a rater large conch shell, and i had been looking for one of those. because , well because I wanted one and this one is a beauty! Now all i need is and old pump church organ to sit next to it. That yard had a large clam shell. from the south Pacific, the kind sometimes used for baptismal fonts......but it was way above my price limit..  That was my haul for the day.   Still i covered every open streat, and heard alot of good stories,  got a small bag of  simple chocolate chip bar cookies, and the recipe for them..  Relished each one of  those cookies!   Even got  the recipe. 

Note,   Wasn't planning on adding this but, BUT, after thinking about it, here goes.   I choose the picture because it was so very sweet.  It has been awhile since i drove down that street, like 2-3 years, and the house is no longer there.   SIGH!!!

a wish wrapped in a poem

pause  
 somewhere

 between 

 

 the heat and the chill

looking backward

 looking forward

  memories made and ,tomorrows 

summer's dream 

has been planted

 

the rest is to be dreamed

A tale of two tillers

Uuuuuh, not really sure why i want to talk about Milly and Tilly.  Guess its because they the most exciting things about this Gardening year so far. No seriously they are, it is a game of skill to weave TILLY between the rows of plants and grind up all of those nasty weeds. The nearly everyday downpours that have caused my tomato plants to just give up, not that i blame them. The result is not stronger plants with large tomatoes, no its it is quite the opposite.  Making this year not exactly regretable, more like lessons learned. 

 

 MIlly has tilled up most of the huge gardens  of my younger years, when there were more people at my table and fewer deer in my yard it took half the day to till my garden. It takes less than an hour now to till my tomato patch now.  

  

 I I would like you to meet the QUEEN of my tomato patch garden for almost 5 decades, the one and only Tilly. Always there for the heavy work, so i could read seed catalogs and day dream about growing giant tomatoes. Her main job is, of course, was to make sure i wasn't too tired from digging by hand to make a decent supper.
 

 

Still have those bootsT they  don't really fit right,never have, over time they have become rather stiff. Maybe 40 years ago,  there was a an old tyme general store on the back streets of the next town up the road. The owners were aging and decided to sell out, got i alot of useful stuff at that sale. Including steel toed leather boots,it still wear them.  They have seen alot of years have, seen alot of snow alot dust alot of mud,most of it caught in their very deep grooves in the outsole.  They collected mud that became compacted until it felt like trying to walk on skis.  The fun part was getting the mud out by jumping up and down and watching the

 . chunks of mud fly.
I bought a pair bright red  longjohns also. Made a Christmas decoration for the front door out of the longjohns.

 

This is Milly, so named because she is "Mini" compared to Tilly.  Oh! those are my plastic clogs, bought them about the same time i bought Milly, and still wear them.Now where was i going with this???? ah yes, 
Millys job is to till between pants and down the rows, light, maneuverable, and no where near as loud as Tilly...and this year because of the rain which made it difficult to weed, she had her. Hacking at weed and muddy weeds roots. That seemed to make weed grow better.

Milly got her name first even though she is much newer, obviously on a day when my true lack of creativity was showing.  Think that might actually explain Tilly's name also.

 

After the Christmas season is over, and the bright lights fade the snow starts to turn into dirty drifts by the side of the road, then and only then is it time to get out the seed catalogs and daydream.  When i go out to the tool shed to get a snow shovel or some of my infamous mix or salt and sand, it's time to pause and reassure  Milly, Tilly and myself that Spring will be here some day.   

Mamie Eisenhower we are honored to have you in Grandma's kitchen today

 in the early 50's we got a TV....pretty progressive for those years. Anyway the person i remember most, was Mamie Eisenhower, to me she was someone special, after all she was the First Lady, whatever that meant, married to the President, lived in the White House and wore alot of ball gowns.
Please remember that these are memories from before i even went to kindergarten. Little did they know we shared a love of cooking, didn't know that until i read the article that is posted here today.
The two very different recipes in the article  represent the balance between the tables generously laden and the table of the farm wife. In my not so humble opinion she understood both.   
 

Enjoy!

 

 

Mamie Eisenhower’s 4-Ingredient Tomato Pudding Is a Vintage Gem That Deserves a Comeback

It’s the only 8x8 recipe you’ll ever need.

By Lisa Blake 

 

Published on August 9, 2026

Credit: 

Allrecipes / Getty Images

No First Lady recipe has stood the test of time quite like Mamie Eisenhower’s famous Million Dollar Fudge. But another recipe from the former White House hostess has quietly resurfaced online—and it’s perfect for peak tomato season.

Mamie Eisenhower, wife of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady from 1953 to 1961, was known for approachable, family-style cooking and effortless entertaining. While her rich chocolate fudge became a nationwide sensation and her Pumpkin Chiffon Pie took over American kitchens, one of her lesser-known recipes has recently captured Reddit’s attention: tomato pudding.

Vintage recipes can sometimes sound strange—until you remember the era they came from. Like spoon bread or corn pudding, tomato pudding reflects on a time when home cooks called on simple pantry ingredients to stretch seasonal produce into comforting side dishes.

How To Make Mamie Eisenhower’s Tomato Pudding

Recently posted in the r/OldCelebrityRecipes subreddit by Redditor @ciaolavinia, the former First Lady’s recipe is incredibly simple, as it only calls for four kitchen staples—plus salt. But she was on to something with this sweet-and-savory bread pudding.

The combination of tomatoes, butter, bread, and brown sugar creates a balance of tangy, buttery, and lightly sweet flavors that pairs especially well with grilled chicken, barbecued pork, ham, or burgers. The unexpected dish is also a fun conversation starter that stands out from the usual pasta salad or potato salad at a picnic or potluck.

The dish lands somewhere between a savory bread pudding and an old-fashioned Southern tomato casserole. It may sound unusual to modern ears, but recipes like tomato pudding have deep American roots dating back to the 1800s, when home cooks looked for creative ways to use abundant summer tomato hauls.

To make this vintage tomato pudding, start by simmering tomato puree with brown sugar, salt, and a little boiling water for about five minutes. While that’s cooking, scatter cubed white bread in an 8×8-inch baking dish and drizzle it with melted butter. Pour the warm tomato mixture over the bread, cover the dish, and bake at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes. The result is a soft, sweet-and-savory side dish with a texture that lands somewhere between a casserole and bread pudding.

Tips and Tricks for Tomato Pudding

If you’re planning to test Mamie Eisenhower’s recipe, a few simple tweaks can improve both texture and flavor, while staying true to the original instructions:

• Use day-old bread. It better absorbs the tomato mixture without becoming mushy.
• Choose ripe summer tomatoes. You can puree them in a food processor, or look for good-quality stewed tomatoes for the best canned flavor.
• Bake thoroughly. You may need to bake longer than 30 minutes to ensure that most of the liquid has evaporated. Look for a pudding top that is lightly caramelized.
• Make it more savory. Add minced onion or celery for a little extra depth. And, if you prefer less sweetness, reduce the sugar slightly
•  
• 
  

 

 

• ing simple ingredients like chocolate morsels, marshmallow cream, and evaporated milk.
• Holiday Favorite: Perfect for gifting, this vintage treat remains beloved for its indulgent sweetness and nostalgic charm.
• First Lady Legacy: Reflecting Mamie’s warm, festive personality, the fudge embodies her approachable, comforting style in the White House kitchen.

It’s pretty much foolproof.

Credit: Allrecipes / Getty Images © Allrecipes / Getty Images

There’s something about the holidays that makes us remember Mamie Eisenhower. She had a natural warmth and friendliness about her that felt as festive as the season.

But it wasn’t just the 26 decorated Christmas trees, the generous gifts she gave to the White House staff, or her signature touches of “Mamie pink” that made her mark on presidential Christmases. It was also the way she celebrated the kitchen—keeping it well-run, cheerful, and full of comfort.

Mamie’s Midwestern roots gave her a grounded, relatable approach to cooking, and she gravitated toward hearty, simple comfort dishes like pot roasts, beef stews, and other winter staples that filled the White House dining room during the season.

But one recipe more than any other has come to define her sweet, classic style and serve as a national nod to her legacy: her Million Dollar Fudge.

Mamie Eisenhower’s Million Dollar Fudge Recipe

If we could add one new confection to your traditional treats this year, it would be this one. 

Mamie Eisenhower’s Million Dollar Fudge first gained fame during the holiday season of Eisenhower’s election year, 1953, when it appeared in the Christmas edition of Women’s Home Companion, one of the most popular women’s magazines of the day.

At the time, recipes from First Ladies were a big deal. They were seen as stylish, elegant, and patriotic—and this one was no exception. Like any good “Million Dollar” recipe, the name alone promises it’ll taste like a million bucks. But, better yet, it doesn’t cost anywhere near that to make.

Credit: Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling: Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling: Natalie Ghazali

The recipe was such a hit that it was reprinted over and over throughout the ‘50s and ‘60s under names like “Mamie Eisenhower’s Fudge” or “Mamie’s Fudge.” People loved its rich chocolate flavor, nutty texture, and unapologetically indulgent sweetness, perfect for the sweet tooth of the 1950s. Plus, it was practically foolproof, which only made home cooks love it more.

It also used ingredients that, at the time, were becoming staples in American kitchens: chocolate morsels, marshmallow cream, and canned evaporated milk. And unlike other fudge recipes that require precision, thermometers, and even a bit of luck, Mamie’s version is far less fussy. A little stovetop cooking, a bit of stirring, and you’re done.

Even though we’ve shifted from clipping recipes out of magazines to saving them on screens with a tap of our fingers, the charm of Mamie’s fudge remains just as strong. It’s the kind of vintage treat that never goes out of style—one we crave holiday season after holiday season. Honestly, people seem to love it just as much now as they did in 1955.

“My mom made this when I was growing up, [and] I never forgot how it tasted,” one reviewer shared. “It’s so delicious; I prefer this fudge over any other fudge.”

Another reason it stays so popular? It’s perfect for gifting. Pack up a few squares in a cute food-safe box, tie it with a bow, and you have a thoughtful treat for neighbors, friends, or coworkers. Mamie kept a famously organized social schedule, so you can bet she had more than a few people on her holiday gift list.

How much of this fudge Mamie (or President Eisenhower) actually ate, we may never know. But the recipe itself carries a warmth and charm that will forever be tied to the First Lady and her legacy.

You can find Mamie Eisenhower’s Chocolate Fudge recipe on our sister brand Southern Living’s website and save it to your MyRecipes account to keep this delicious tradition going in your own kitchen.

Read the original article on Allrecipes