By Dody Denman

Under the heading of “may not be the greatest idea you ever had”…..

On June 20, 1975, “Jaws” opened across North America on 464 screens. Sunday we celebrated Father’s Day by watching the 40^th anniversary re-release and it was quite impressive! I saw the movie when originally released, but my children and grandchildren had not.   They all thought they had seen “Jaws”…they had not.   (Reruns on televisions just don’t compare.) I thought I would spend most of the time watching their reactions…I did not. I had such a greater appreciation for the movie and Spielburg; his camera work, the music, the silence, the perfect casting…all came together for one of the greatest films ever made. I am so grateful my family could share seeing “Jaws” as it should be seen.

Afterwards, at dinner, I confessed my long ago sin to the fifteen family members that had gathered. Today, I confess it to you.

In June of ’75 Jon was 3 months old, Kristie was two and Jeff was four. I had not been to a movie in five years! Their Dad and I went to church on Wednesday night and saw an opportunity that I cannot say was our finest hour. We lovingly positioned our children in the church nursery, but instead of going to church…went to the Garden Oaks Theatre on North Shepherd to see “Jaws”.

Problem was, it was at least a 20 minute drive, a 2 hour and 15 minutes movie, and the return drive. This was almost three hours! Church did not last three hours on Wednesday night!!! We drove into a darkened church with an angry nursery worker. In my defense…this was a friend that I had worked with in the nursery…not a stranger.  Also, we did not think this through….

Adding to the offense; as I told the story my daughter yelled, “That’s what Austin was talking about!” It seems I had shared this story with grandson number three at some point, but he thought Kristie had told him. With talk of seeing “Jaws” in crept from his subconscious. He insisted she had and she insisted it never happened, saying, “There is no way my mom and dad would have done that!”

I truly don’t remember what was said that ill-fated night, nor how we could possible rationalize such a decision, however, I am still not certain I regret it!

To appease my traumatized family, I will make a sure fire winner…my “Poor Man’s Stroganoff.” I have been making this since the time of “Jaws.” A friend and I made vats of it for a dinner at same church. It is always a hit and friends always want the recipe. If you need to apologize to your family, this will make it easier.

Poor Man’s Stroganoff

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. of ground beef
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 8 oz. mushrooms, thinly sliced (may be omitted, but really good with them)
• 2 cans cream of mushroom soup (healthy versions work very well)
• 3-3 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 T. Worchester sauce
• 16 oz bag of medium-width egg noodles
• 1 16 oz container sour cream (may use 2%, do not use fat free)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• Fresh thyme or parsley, finely chopped (optional)

Directions

1. Crumble beef into large saucepan with onion and garlic. Add salt and pepper. Sauté on medium heat. When the meat begins to brown add the mushrooms. Continue cooking until vegetables are soft.
2. Add soups and 3 cups broth and simmer on low about 30 minutes. Add more broth if needed for a soupy, yet thick mixture. This can simmer for much longer.
3. Meanwhile, fill a large pot halfway with water, cover; bring to boil over high heat.
4. When the water is boiling, add the noodles and cook one minute less than package directions suggest. Drain carefully, returning noodles to pot.
5. Remove ground beef mixture from heat. Check seasoning adding more if needed and stir in sour cream thoroughly. Let sit about 5 minutes before serving, covered.
6. Serve over drained noodles.
7. Garnish with fresh thyme or parsley.

IMAGES:

JAWS – tamilbites.net

Food – D Denman