My dad, Richard Latta, was one of the most interesting and creative people I have ever met. His interests included and were not limited to the following: Photography, Science experiments, Cooking, Bugs, Gardening, Nature, Poetry, Music-different genres, Movies-different genres, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Chihuly.

His Jobs were: Junior High Science Teacher, Mailman, Puzzle Maker, Writer, Poet, and Security Guard.

Here are a few of our family’s favorites that Dad created and cooked for us. As a child, I remember being SO happy when it was a Hamburger and Gravy Dinner Day. I LOVED it when Dad made this delicious meal. Several years before Dad passed away, I asked him for the ingredients and measurements for these recipes.

Cauliflower Soup

1. Fry 1 medium onion in 2 Tbsp. of butter.
2. Add 2 Tbsp. of flour.
3. For a thicker soup, add 3 Tbsp. of flour
4. Add 4 cups of milk and cook almost to a boil.
5. Add 1 bunch of cooked and mashed cauliflower to the soup.
6. Cook for 5 minutes or until very hot.
7. For variety, add parmesan cheese or fresh chives.

Hamburger and Gravy

1. Brown 1 medium onion and 1 lb. of ground beef.
2. Add 2 Tbsp. of flour and brown for another 3-5 minutes.
3. Add 2 cups of water to thicken and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
4. Serve over mashed potatoes.
5. For variety, add ketchup to taste more like Sloppy Joes.

Apple Crisp

1. Peel and core 6 to 8 medium apples.
2. Place apples in 9 x 13 cake pan with 3 Tbsp. of butter or margarine and 2 Tbsp. of flour sprinkled over apples.
3. In a separate bowl, mix 2 cups of oatmeal with 1 stick of butter or margarine, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, and 2 Tbsp. of cinnamon.
4. Mash all of it together until the butter is incorporated into the oatmeal and the sugar and cinnamon is combined with the oatmeal.
5. Pour evenly over the apples and mat down so the oatmeal mixture covers and seals the apples.
6. Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 1 hour.
7. Best served hot with vanilla ice cream.

May you and your family enjoy these recipes as much as we did and do!