Sidna Brower Mitchell Blog: Big Families and Landsharks

Hotty Toddy drink, picture by Patrick Truby as seen on Wikipedia

Big families are wonderful unless you, as a graduate of Ole Miss, have cousins who are extremely loyal LSU or Arkansas alum.

I was busy yelling at some commentator during the Ole Miss-Arkansas game because he kept calling the team and supporter “landsharks.” Has anyone bothered to check the definition of the land shark?

Frankly, I’m not happy with such definitions as “a person who subsists by cheating or robbing sailors on shore” or “a land-pirate or a land-grabber or one who seizes upon land by force or chicanery.”

But does Ole Miss really want to be associated with a definition that promotes a kinky sex act, particularly among young kids? Check the urban definition if you don’t believe me.

Come on Rebels, it’s time to march and get rid of that ridiculous land shark name and signs.

And what about that black bear mascot?

But I digress.

Not five seconds after Ole Miss was blindsided by Arkansas’ last and winning play of the game, my Texas cousin Sidney Marks phoned; she was calling those damn hogs and laughing as an Arkansas native and university graduate. Of course, my LSU cousin also had some snotty comments, but Dr. Willis soon got his due.

When I immediately called him after Ole Miss Rebels’ victory over the LSU Tigers, my fella Ken claimed Hillman wouldn’t answer the phone. Hillman picked up the phone with these sentences: “You have reached (732) 800-0000. It is no longer a working number. If you attempt to leave a message, you will not receive a response.”

I laughed throughout his fake recording and started the Hotty Toddy chant. He did answer the call and insisted next year would be different. Dream on!

Then a few days later I received an appeal and thank you for my support of a non-profit agency headed by another Arkansas alum cousin. Randy ended his personal message with a PS, giving the Ole Miss-Arkansas score. And this man is a preacher! You would think he would be more sympathetic.

All this led me to pull out that recipe for a Hot Toddy in The Founding Foodies cookbook. Of course, I made a substitution.

Hot Toddy

2 teaspoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice

1 teaspoon butter

½ teaspoon grated nutmeg

dash each ground cinnamon, ginger and cloves

1 ounce Bourbon

1 cup hot water

In a bowl combine the brown sugar, lemon or lime juice, butter and spices; stir into a paste.

Add the Bourbon to the hot water in a cup and stir in the paste until it dissolves.

NOTE: Sip slowly. The original recipe called for rum but if you’re a Rebel, you select Bourbon. I used fresh lime juice because limes were cheaper than lemons. At first this reminded me of a hot toddy the family doctor recommended when I had stomach cramps as a teenager.

However, about half way through the toddy, I decided this drink tasted pretty good.

Reach Sidna Brower Mitchell via e-mail at sbmcooks@aol.com.

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