I was researching some information on my computer when I saw the late-breaking news – Andy Griffith is dead at the age of 86. My favorite television show of all time is “The Andy Griffith Show.” There isn’t a single episode that I haven’t seen at least once. Like many fans of the show, my favorite episodes are the ones in black and white. The color episodes seem to lose their appeal. Perhaps it was the changes in supporting cast members, or maybe I just don’t like change.
While watching a weekend marathon of some of the most poplar episodes voted on by TV Land viewers, I realized that many were my favorites as well.
You know you are a fan of the show when you have Aunt Bee’s Mayberry Cookbook, a book that details all 250 episodes and “The Andy Griffith Show” game of trivia. I don’t mean to brag, but I am the all-time champ of the game of trivia. This also means I know a whole lot about nothing.
Several years ago, the John Boy and Billy radio show had a Mayberry trivia contest every Friday morning. Steve and I would listen to it on the way to school and compete to win. I usually ended up winning. Occasionally, we were both stumped, but, of course, remembered as soon as the answer was given.
There is an abundance of television viewing today that I could not care less about. I always seem to gravitate to the reruns of my favorite shows of years gone by.
“The Andy Griffith Show” is timeless. It centers around a simpler time with a small town attitude. Friends and family cared about and for each other. Lessons were taught and learned in a very subtle manner.
A series of Sunday school lessons was written using episodes of the show as a basis for a Bible lesson that was being taught. I ordered them and used them in a class I was teaching several years ago. My students loved watching the show. They would write characterizations, synopsis and critiques after viewing the episodes. They loved the activity and so did I.
We learn a lot from television. Some of it is not always good. If I am channel surfing, and hear the theme song being whistled, you can bet that I am stopping off in Mayberry. I even know the words to the theme song.
How is your knowledge of show and its characters?
See if you can identify the person who said the following quotes?
1. “Can’t I just look at the pretty man?”
2. “If you want a good suit, you have to go to Mount Pilot.”
3. “Andy’s got hot knees.”
4. “I came to fill my vase.”
5. “Six can’t play bridge, Goober.”
6. “You just beat everything.”
7. “You just go up an alley and holler, ‘Fish.’”
8. “Once you learn something, you learn it.”
9. “Call the man!”
10. “I’ve got the magazines to swing it.”
11. “I hate to chit-chat.”
12. “Boy, giraffes are selfish.”
13. “It’s too late, I already 10-4’d ya!”
14. “Flibbertigibbet.”
15. “Throwing food is a sin.”
16. “They’s all keyed up,.”
17. “Surprise, Surprise, I can see it in your eyes!”
18. “Johnny Paul says a horse hair put into stagnant water will turn into a snake.”
19. “Judy, Judy, Judy!”
20. “Shazam!”
The answers can be found at the end of my column. Check your score and see how you did. Here are your much deserved rewards according to the number you answered correctly.
15 – 20 A night out with the “Fun Girls”
10 – 15 A pounded steak dinner a Morelli’s
5 – 10 A haircut at Floyd’s
0 – 5 A jar of Aunt Bee’s pickles
With the hot weather we have been having, who wants to heat up the kitchen? How about a nice cool refreshing salad? I hope you enjoy this week’s recipes. Thanks for reading.
WILD-RICE CHICKEN SALAD
2 (6.2 ounce) package Long-grain and Wild Rice mix
2 (6 ounces) jars marinated quartered artichoke hearts, undrained
4 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 celery ribs, thinly sliced
5 green onions, chopped
1 (2.5 ounces) can sliced ripe olives, drained
1 cup mayonnaise
1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
Cook rice according to package directions; cool.
Drain artichoke quarters, reserving ½ cup liquid.
Stir together the rice, artichokes, chicken, bell pepper, ribs, green onions, and ripe olives.
Stir together the reserved artichoke liquid, mayonnaise and curry powder; toss with rice and chicken mixture.
Cover and chill for at least 8 hours before serving.
LAYERED SPINACH SALAD WITH CREAMY HORSERADISH
DRESSING
1 pound fresh spinach
½ pound bacon, cooked and crumbled or package of Real Bacon Bits
5 chopped boiled eggs
1 head lettuce, torn
1 (10 ounces) package frozen green peas, uncooked but thawed
1 red onion, chopped
¼ pound. Swiss cheese, shredded
¼ pound. Cheddar cheese, shredded
Sugar, salt and pepper to taste
Layer ingredients in order. Sprinkle with sugar, salt and pepper.
Top with dressing.
Chill until ready to serve.
Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
3 tsp. prepared horseradish
1 package ranch dressing.
Mix all ingredients together
SHRIMP AND
ASPARAGUS SALAD WITH SPICY RANCH DRESSING
2 pounds. large fresh shrimp, boiled, peeled and chilled
2 pounds. fresh asparagus, cooked until crisp tender and chilled
8 cups assorted salad greens
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 red onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 (4 ounces) package feta cheese with garlic and herbs, crumbled
Spicy Ranch Dressing
Place salad greens on a large platter.
Arrange shrimp, asparagus and tomatoes over greens. Sprinkle with onion, bell pepper and cheese.
Serve with dressing.
Spicy Ranch Dressing:
2 cups mayonnaise
½ cup buttermilk
1 envelope buttermilk Ranch dressing mix
4 green onions, sliced
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
¼ cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon red pepper.
Whisk all ingredients together.
Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Answers:
1. Charlene Darling
2. Floyd
3. Barney
4. Otis
5. Barney
6. Andy
7. Gomer
8. Barney
9. Andy
10. Floyd
11. Lydia
12. Barney
13. Andy
14. Aunt Bee
15. Aunt Bee
16. Mr. Darling
17. Ernest T. Bass
18. Opie
19. Goober
20. Gomer
nContact Lee Ann Flemming at lafkitchen@hughes-.net.
