Good old Kansas hospitality means a neighborly delivery of delicious smoky BBQ!

Sometimes I think my neighbors can read my mind.  After several hours of house chores I suddenly found myself without plans for lunch.  The girls were tired, cranky, and hungry.  I needed to put together a tasty lunch immediately! I had no idea what to fix, and was standing in the kitchen staring absently into the pantry when the doorbell rang.  I came face to face with the next door neighbor’s son, who was holding a sooty aluminum pan half full of smoldering BBQ.  Real barbequed pork, slow smoked in a back yard on a sunny Sunday!  Jackpot!

I took the pan to my stove and peeled back a little of the foil.  The slab of pork was caramelized to a black chewy crust on one side, still hazy pink on the other, and emanating a sinful smoky scent.  I teased a few obliging strands of the still warm meat from the slab with a small fork and had a taste.  It was charred heaven!  I fashioned a light lunch of pulled pork sandwiches with BBQ sauce, toast, mayonnaise, and homemade pickles on the side.  Each bite was a perfect marriage of wanton texture and complexity of flavor.  Even my daughters, who had refused to eat almost everything all day due to illness, were delighted to have a plate of BBQ smothered in zesty sauce for Sunday dinner.  There is something both humble and luxurious about having a meal of BBQ on a sunny afternoon.

I sent my neighbor a text message thanking her for reading my mind and spoiling us with a truly delicious treat.  It isn’t often that one is blessed with such generous neighbors, people who would share so thoughtfully.  We truly have the kindest and best neighbors anyone could ask for.

— G