Buried Treasure Delicious Hot Dish

The other night I was walking around the shed picking up debris.  There were shingles that were on the ground, but hadn’t seemed to come off the shed, house or garage.  I’m not sure where they actually came from.  There were bits of electronics that someone had maybe buried.  The process of cutting down the box elder had revealed bits of pottery and glass in the past.  I was trying to pull up some of the creeping charlie when I noticed a round, flat object in the dirt.  It was almost recognizable as a coin, but it was slightly corroded.  I brushed off some of the dirt and tried to make out any engraving or inscription.  It was faint, but I could just see the words “Queen Elizabeth”.

I pocketed the coin and went to the garden shed and grabbed my gloved and a trowel.  I grabbed a grocery bag and began to dig.  You see, when we had done our final walk through on the property, the son of the previous owner said that just recently, his brother asked if they had ever dug up his mom’s jewelry that he had buried in the sandbox.  We went as far as buying the kids a metal detector for Christmas, but I think we need a better one.  The kids played with it briefly, but it doesn’t seem to be overly sensitive and is only able to pick up nails under a slight dusting of dirt.

My daughter and I played a game of pirate treasure.  I uncovered the X that she said marked the spot.  I uncovered a batting glove. (After watching so many episodes of Bones, I was happy there wasn’t a hand attached to the glove.)  I uncovered a few more coins, a porcelain knob for a dresser, a few paint tubes, bits of glass, the occasional unidentified object, and a handmade die.  

At one point I felt my trowel hit metal.  Whatever it was was too big to lift easily with my trowel.  I thought back to everything I had heard about archaeological digs and very slowly and carefully revealed the object.  I assumed it was a water pipe, but couldn’t figure out where it would be leading to or coming from and it seemed to be rather shallowly buried. A crack in it assured me that it was not a water pipe, so I got out the big shovel to unearth whatever it was.  After pulling it out all the way, I believe it was a fence pole at one point in time.

After carefully cleaning all the bits and pieces we found in the yard and in the firepit, I realized that assembly of the various bits and pieces would create something greater than the garbage they were.  The sum of the whole is greater than the parts and all of that.  On Mother’s Day, after careful consideration of the treasures, I created an herbal fairy garden for the back porch.  (You can see it on the 10 Cents Worth of Dates Facebook Page)

I took some time after that to dig around in the dirt some more.  I discovered that the box elder we cut down had actually grown over some pavers that had been laid in that area. There was a divot in the tree where the root and trunk grew around the paver.

As my hands were covered in dirt and I felt the ache in the scar tissue on my ribs, I marveled at the thrill of the hunt.  Some of my happiest moments are spent digging for buried treasures.  Not only do I dig in my yard, but I scour thrift shops for the perfect bits of china (you’ve seen my Wedgwood), or furniture to redo.  Most relevant to this, however, I search through old recipes.  I make everything and hope that something sticks.  (Like the Marshmallow Frosting).  Sometimes there are treasures, like Cornflake Bars, and sometimes there is trash, like the Egg Foo Yung, but the thrill is in the hunt.  The moment your curiosity peaks and you hold your breath in anticipation before you take that first bite. 

That’s how it was for the Delicious Hot Dish.  Without much in the way of seasoning outside of salt and pepper, this could’ve been pretty bland and boring.  “Delicious” seemed like it would be an unfulfilled promise.  A catchy word that would prompt housewives to serve their families another version of casserole instead of a blue plate special of meat and 3.  But that’s not what happened.  When we pulled this casserole out of the oven, it actually smelled good. As we lifted forks to mouths, my husband and I gave each other a look anticipating the kids’ reaction.  But, somehow, this hot dish was actually delicious. It’s a make-ahead dish that can be put together the night before and baked before supper.  I’m sure it could be frozen and reheated.  Leftovers the next day were good, too.  This recipe was definitely a hidden treasure.

The Recipe:

You can follow 10 Cents Worth of Dates on Pinterest and Facebook.

Friends Share With Friends