8 Aug 2015 – Salmon Croquettes – This recipe is very easy, yet so delicious!

Ingredients

– 2 (15 oz) cans of pink salmon

– 2 eggs (1 egg per can)

– 2 tsp of flour (1 per can)

– chopped onions to taste

– salt and pepper to taste

– 1 tsp of baking powder (add last and right before shaping into patties to cook)

 

Preparation (makes 8 servings or patties)

– Remove salmon from can and discard water.  Clean salmon by removing skin and bones.  Place in bowl large enough to hold salmon and all other ingredients.

– heat peanut oil in frying pan (just enough oil to cover bottom of pan about 1/4 inch)

– combine all ingredients and form patties (note:  it helps to periodically wet hands so that mixture does not stick to your hands)

– coat patty with seafood seasoning and gently place in skillet ensuring oil is hot enough to fry.  Turn periodically to obtain a golden brown crust on patty.  Remove from skillet and drain

– keep warm in oven (be careful not to over cook)

7 Aug 2015 – Introducing The Great-Grandparents – Mother’s Side Of The Family

Dan and Amanda (Mandy) Jasper were my 2nd Great Grandparents on my Mother’s side of the family.  Dan Jasper was born in 1863 in Alabama to the parents of Robert (born 1806 in South Carolina) and Nancy Jasper (born 1827 in North Carolina).   By 1870, Robert and Nancy relocated to Quitman, MS.  


In 1880, at the age of 17 years old, Dan Jasper was a laborer and a single Black man.  In 1887, Dan Jasper married Mandy Portis also from Quitman, MS.    They had nine children together, of which Eva Jasper was my great-grandmother.  More on Eva below.

Let me pause and talk a little about Dan Jasper.  In my genealogy research, I was able to find that Dan Jasper secured 40 acres of land!  See the certificate of land registration below.

Dan Jasper Land Certification – 13 August 1895

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7 Aug 2015 – The Island Of Cannibals…And Doughnuts!

You’re probably thinking, “what do cannibals and doughnuts have in common?”  Hmmm…well, read on to find out!

At the age of 28 years old, Melzar (my grandfather) and his best friend, Julius Jackson, joined the Merchant Marines as cooks.  Melzar and Julius did not know how to cook, but they could read so that’s exactly what they did!  Who can’t follow a recipe?

This job provided much-needed income and gave them a different perspective of the world. They traveled on the Agwi Prince and the Booneborough vessels during World War II, and were able to go beyond Mobile to places like London, New York, California, and New Guinea.  Can you believe the manifest identified Melzar as 33 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, and 178 pounds.  I’m sure he had a striking appearance! Continue reading

7 Aug 2015 – Introducing The Grandparents

Inell&Melzar Williams

Inell and Melzar Williams

When you start your family tree, start with yourself and gradually move through your tree by adding parents, grandparents and great grandparents. Capture what you know, then search the data bases on Ancestry (ancestry.com) or other genealogy sites for more information.  If you have the ability to visit your home town, you should visit the local library, churches attended by your family, and seek out living members to fill in the blanks.

Between the Dashes was created because I desired more than just the birth and death dates.   When you search the genealogical databases you find lots of information.  One of the challenges is filling in the stories between the dashes.  Who were they?  What were their hobbies?  What did they love to do?  What were some of their challenges?  Between the Dashes will focus on answering some of those questions about my family.  Let’s start with my grandparents.  

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7 Aug 2015 – Introducing The Parents

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Alice and Roland Davis – Sometime After 1957

 

They met in high school.  He came up to her in the cafeteria and said, “Hi, I’m Roland.  I’m on the football team.  What’s your name?”  She responded, “Alice”.

“Nice to meet you.  Do you have a phone at home?  Can I call you sometime?” Roland asked hoping the answers to all his questions were yes!

Alice thought Roland was handsome.  She hoped he really would call.

The year was around 1950.  Both Alice and Roland attended Central High School in Mobile, AL.  Roland was one of the star running backs (or wide receivers – we are researching this).  Everyone that attended Central High’s football games knew that if Roland got the ball, he was going to score a touchdown.  He was always in the local newspaper for his many achievements with football and track.  He was truly a star at Central High! Continue reading