Absurdly Delicious

Today is National Absurdity Day. It’s that one day a year when we are encouraged to embrace what might otherwise be considered odd or weird or even down right nuts. Personally, I think American has been embracing Absurdity Day for a while now, but that’s a whole other subject.

We’ve come a long way, baby. Especially when you take a look at things people once did because of what they once thought was true. False truths creates utterly absurd behaviors. Absurd behaviors creates a twist sense of acceptable social norms. And our desire to fit in creates even more absurdity. It becomes a crazy cycle.

Take body image. Once upon a time, the full-figured gal was considered rather sexy. Somewhere along the way, that idea changed. The thinner the better. And as a result, people (mainly women) thought with the help of a machine, we could giggle the fat away. Today we know better. It’s drinking apple cider vinegar that makes us thin.

Fifty years ago, you could bring a gun to school, no problem. Boys and their guns went together like girls and their search for a husband. Many public high schools had shooting clubs. In some parts of the country, schools even had their own gun range right on campus. Since club meeting were held after class, boys in these clubs were allowed to bring guns to school. Today we would find that insane. When I was a girl in school, the parking lot was filled with pick-em-up trucks complete with gun racks and rifles. While we didn’t have a shooting range at school, boys often went hunting before or after school. No one thought twice about it. No one thought shooting up a classroom was a good idea, either.

Once upon a time, if you were an unmarried woman of 25, people thought there was something seriously wrong with you. And married women were not only encouraged to avoid you, they felt the need to hid their husbands because truth be told all unmarried women were on a desperate hunt for a man. After all, it is waiting hand and foot on our man that made us complete, right ladies?

To celebrate Absurdity Day, may I offer you an absurdly simple and utterly delicious supper. The first time I made this for my family, I was so sure it would be a flop and that some serious “doctoring” would be required to elevate the flavors my guys have come to expect. I mean, just how flavorful can a little salt and pepper, some dried onion soup and a whole lot of butter provide? Just wait till you taste it!

Buttery Beef Tips over Egg Noodles
2 lbs Cubed Beef Stew Meat
Black Pepper to taste
1/2 cup Butter
1 (1 oz ) envelope Dry Onion Soup Mix
16 oz Wide Egg Noodles
2 tablespoons Butter, for noodles
Salt to taste

Cut stew meat into smaller pieces, perfect to fit on the end of a fork. Season well with black pepper to taste. Set aside. Cut butter into small pieces, set aside.

Scatter half of the beef in the bowl of a slow cooker. Scatter half of the butter and half of the onion soup mix over the meat. Repeat with remaining beef, butter and soup.

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Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours, stirring once or twice as it cooks.

About 20 minutes prior to serving, bring a large pot of salted water to a full boil. Cook egg noodles until tender, about 6 minutes. Drain well. Stir in butter, season with salt.

When ready to serve, spread noodles out on a large platter or individual plates. Top with Buttery Beef. Serve and enjoy.

Delicious with Kitchen Cut Green Beans and buttered bread. All warm and cozy, like a memory of comfort.