February is host to several birthdays of some memorable folks such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Susan B Anthony, Charles Darwin, Thomas Edison, Galileo, Gertrude Stein, and yours truly Lisa Lanier. I will be turning 55 this month. Whew that sounds OLD!

Of course, I have to mention Valentine’s Day – don’t forget to pick up a little something for your sweetie. Americans spent $21.8 billion (yes that says billion) on Valentine’s Day in 2021. The average amount spent on Valentine's Day in 2021 was $164.76 per person. That is one heck of a box of chocolates!

Let’s not forget that February hosts Black History Month. Here is a fun fact about American history that I bet you did not learn in school.

One in four cowboys was Black, but African American cowboys, are rarely depicted in pop culture or history texts.

The image we were taught of the Wild West cowboys of the great Western plains were always white. In reality, historians estimate that one in four American cowboys were black.

The cowboy lifestyle first came into play in Texas, when American settlers would invade the then Mexican owned-territory in the early 1800s. Americans moving into the territory brought enslaved people with them and began setting up plantations. By 1860, after Texas became a part of the Union, an estimated 30 percent of the population was Black.

Following the abolition of slavery, many of those people became in-demand as cowhands. When Texas joined the Confederacy, many slaveowners went off to fight in the Civil War, leaving the people they owned to tend the cattle. But when the war ended, freed people found themselves in high demand for positions as cowhands to ranchers across the south.

It's also believed that the idea of the "Lone Ranger" was inspired by a Black man named Bass Reeves. Born in slavery, Reeves escaped his position of servitude and eventually became a US Deputy Marshal, known for his excellent skills as a marksman, and for riding a silver horse.

There are times like I had this week, I came rolling in on two wheels after a longer-than-expected day at work. It is almost seven and I have a pack of hungry teenagers. If you are like me and you bring home the bacon AND you fry it up in a pan, sometimes you need quick, easy meal options when time is short. It is really cold out in January and some comfort food is the ticket. The kids had long hard days too. But comfort food takes a lot of time, right? Not this easy shepherd’s pie recipe. Check it out:

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1 cup chopped onion

• 2 cups frozen corn, thawed

• 2 cups frozen peas, thawed (it’s easier to find mixed frozen veggies these days so use if needed)

• 4 tablespoons ketchup

• 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 teaspoon beef bouillon granules

• 1/2 cup cold water

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 3-1/2 cups mashed potatoes – use the already cooked Bob Evans or Simply Potatoes

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions