by Jackie Garvin 19 Comments
Caring about people is right and good. It’s part of our human nature. Academicians, theologians, psychologists, anthropologists, nurses and other professions have thoroughly studied the mechanics and effects of caring. After years of study, they concluded that people are naturally caring. I learned the lessons of caring from my parents and grandparents who never spent a day in college or ever read a scholarly publication. They learned those lessons from their parents and grandparents who had even less formal education. People inherently know that it’s important to care and be kind.
A young family in our community has gone through a particularly difficult month. Each of the three children (ages 8, 20 months and two weeks) and the mother were admitted to the hospital during the course of one month. The baby wasreadmitted at two weeks of age due to an infection. Every time they turned around, someone else was headed to the hospital. Throw all that stress on the top of bringing home a new baby and a Mom who’s postpartum and you have to wonder just how much one family take. My heart went out to them and I opened my kitchen and cooked for them to show them I care. When you feed a body, you nourish a soul. And you give your heart a boost of some good medicine, too.
Showing someone you care doesn’t require an elaborate production or a lot of time. My food is naturally simple, uncomplicated and family friendly. I thought they would enjoy Jella Burgers and Girl Scout apples with Vanilla Ice Cream for dinner. Both those dishes are homey, comforting and familiar. Some Ham Biscuits with Honey Mustard Butter would make a nice quick breakfast for the next morning, I thought.
My daughter and I delivered the food just in time for dinner. We offered to stay and take care of the baby so Mom couldsit down with the two older children and eat a quiet dinner. Despite all the trauma and stress she had been through, Mom was remarkably composed. I’m not so sure someone would have described me the same way if I had walked a mile in her shoes.
She appreciated the food and the visit. I know her spirits were lifted just knowing that someone was thinking of her and reached out to show they cared. I thanked her for letting me have the opportunity to help out.
My heart feels real good.
Y’all come see us!
**********
Ham Biscuits with Honey Mustard Butter
There are few things any better or any more Southern than Ham Biscuits. Add some Honey Mustard Butter and they are even better than you can imagine. With only a few main ingredients, it ‘s important to make sure that all the ingredients are good quality and tasty. Reminder: the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends honey should only be given to children over the age of 12 months.
Easy Buttermilk Biscuits (or use frozen or canned)
Glazed Ham, sliced (or your favorite good quality deli ham)
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon mustard (I used French’s Honey Dijon)
Salt to taste
Stir together butter, honey and mustard. Add salt if needed. Slice open biscuits and spread butter on the cut side of each half. Stack as much ham as you would like on one side of the biscuits. Cover with the other half of the biscuit. Eat until your heart’s content.
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ABOUT JACKIE
I’m Jackie Garvin, the personality behind the blog. Syrup and Biscuits is a Southern food blog that champions the best the South has to offer: simple food with modern and vintage recipes, beloved traditions, a focus on family and bountiful gratitude for many blessings. We love company and we're mighty happy you joined us. Read more...
Comments
Danny Taylor says
I could eat my weight in these things…not many easy to fix meals that go so far to being the complete meal…and the honey mustard butter is the defining ingredient…love it, love it!! Thanks for this awesome post!!!
Reply
Jackie Garvin says
Danny,
The only thing that comes close to a ham biscuit is a bacon biscuit. 🙂Danny Taylor says
That may be true….but only if the bacon is about a 1/4 inch thick and fried with some chew in it…then you got a winner!!
Your story here is just a great testimony to the great southern hospitality and the value of comfort from friendship and food!!! Thanks for you efforts!
Mamabug says
What an angel you are! The ham biscuits sound wonderful; but taking care of this family is what touched my heart. I wish more people cared about those in their communities that are going through hard times. It’s hard to enjoy what I’ve been blessed with knowing someone else is having a rough go. God Bless you! Hugs from Mamabug.
Reply
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Mamabug! We need to care about each other. That’s very important.
Patti says
That was so special of you & your daughter,That truly makes a good neighbor,person..I’m sure they will never forget your kindness..Thank you for sharing……..Love my Ham or Bacon Biscuits
Reply
Jackie Garvin says
Patti,
If I had the power to change one thing in this world, it would be to make ham biscuits the nutritional equivalent of broccoli and salad greens. I believe I could live on them. 🙂
Julia says
This is the sort of good deed my Mother would do. She was from
Alabama too, Jackie. Makes me so happy when I find yet
another trait that you share with her. She had the kindest, sweetest
heart in the whole world, and I’m seeing more and more of the
same in you. God Bless and Keep you Always.
JuliaReply
Jackie Garvin says
Julia,
Thank you so much. It’s important to care about people. I feel in my heart that most people do care. We all just become overwhelmed with life sometimes and aren’t able to demonstrate we care by going the extra step. Lives are complicated these days and way too stressful. I wish we could go back to simpler times. 🙂
Amy says
A good deed by you for good people that have done good for me too. Just plain goodness.
Reply
Jackie Garvin says
It is goodness, Amos! 🙂
Laura Stark says
You’re a doll, Jackie! I love to do ‘pay it forwards’. And when the mother in your story gets back on her feet, maybe she’ll be able to help someone else. It doesn’t take much: a smile, stepping aside in the grocery line, opening a door… Some of the people I’ve done little things for have responded in surprise as tho no one has ever offered a kind deed before!! The world would be a better place if everyone did just one nice thing a day for a stranger.
Reply
Jackie Garvin says
Laura,
Most of what you’ve described comes down to just being mannerly. I’m disappointed by how insignificant manners have become in our society. I hope we can change that.
Jean says
Aren’t you nice? I think this is part of being from the south. Its taking food to families whether its during sickness or death in the family. Its just the way we are raised. Food comforts us along with knowing someone cared enough about you to cook for you.
Reply
Jackie Garvin says
Jean,
It is certainly part of our culture, no doubt about that. I hope that’s an act of kindness that never goes away. 🙂
Marilyn Burdette says
Jackie, why is it that sharing food brings us so much joy? I love to share some of my cooking whenever it is needed. Guess that is how we were raised to nourish someone soul. Marilyn
Reply
Jackie Garvin says
Marilyn,
Sharing food is showing a genuine act of love and kindness. Food is basic to someone’s survival. However, I think a lot of it is cultural. Our Southern ancestors were poor and knew what it meant to be hungry. Sharing food was a sacrifice but one that was made willingly to show compassion to someone who they thought had a greater need than themselves. Families helped families and neighbors helped neighbors. That’s the stock of which we’re made. 🙂
Mike B says
Heartwarming story but I cannot insult a nice piece of ham with a canned or frozen biscuit. Some of the best memories of my childhood was having breakfast at my grandparents. She made the best homemade buttermilk biscuits and I watched her make them a few hundred times. I have tried but have never been able to copy them. I’m 50 now and will continue trying.
Reply
Jackie Garvin says
Mike,
This is an old post. I’ve come along way with my biscuit making since then. I’ve written an entire cookbook devoted to biscuits. . Also, here’s an update blog post with detail instructions to make mile high perfect biscuits: https://syrupandbiscuits.com/recipe-high-rise-buttermilk-butter-biscuits/
