Stuff

Beth Clayton

When my parents got married, my dad had just joined the military and had been stationed at a base in California. There wasn't enough room in the base for everyone that was stationed there. Some people were living in tents because they couldn't afford to live anywhere else. It was expensive to live in California. My mom and dad were paying nearly five hundred dollars a month for their one bedroom apartment. The only furniture they had was a bed, a couch they found on the side of the road, a coffee table that was left there, and the gifts they received at their wedding.

My mom was working for Pony Express delivering locally. The job didn't pay very well and she received a check only once every three weeks. Expenses always got tight by the end of the three weeks so there wasn't enough money to go out and buy groceries until the next check.

One night about two days from receiving the next check, my dad, being the main chef of the house, decided to throw together whatever they had left. All he could find was: spaghetti sauce, elbow noodles, peas, corn, ground beef, and sliced cheese. He put it together the way he thought it would go best and named it Stuff.

Throughout the next 8 years or so, even after my brother and I came along, we continued to struggle with money. Stuff, being very cheap and easy, became a common and favored dish. Now, I would say that my family is doing well in the money category, and I still occasionally come home to a hot pot of Stuff.

We have enhanced the original recipe by adding more vegetables like mushrooms and green peppers. Whenever I make it, I like to add a lot more shredded cheese. It will continue to be a family favorite for generations to come.