Finding Love Point Cadet Style

I know we're a week out of Valentine's Day, but I still have love on the brain -- maybe because my Recurring Gentleman Caller whisked me away on a surprise date -- dinner and a movie -- last night. The movie happened to be "Valentine's Day" which got me thinking about some romantic stories I grew up hearing.

When Keesler Air Force Base came to Biloxi, it not improved Biloxi's economy and job market. It also vastly added to the female population's marital prospects.

This was particularly true on Point Cadet which, romantically speaking, was a very small pond. As a friend of my mother's once archly noted, that base was a godsend for many a homely lonely.

Even cuties like my mom and three aunts benefited from the social opportunities that arose from jobs at the base exchange. All of them met their future husbands there.

Aunt Selema never let anyone beat her to the punch. When Uncle Russ first walked into the exchange -- 6 ft. plus, white teeth, wavy hair, blazing blue eyes , chiseled bone structure -- the counter girls flipped a coin to see who would get to wait on him. Aunt Selema lost the coin toss, but she tripped the winner, sashayed on over there and was engaged to him within three months. Nice work.

My parents' courtship progressed a little differently. My father, Jerry, newly arrived from California, had left his shaving kit in the taxi. With his hair poufing in Biloxi's legendary humidity, he headed over to the exchange to get some Brillcreme and a razor. His buddy Jim wanted him to meet Toni, a girl who worked there.

As Jerry self-consciously rubbed his chin stubble, he broke the ice with one of his corny jokes: "So are you the girl who is going to help me shave?"

Toni was so fixated on his "hideous" tie with its satin palm tree applique that it took her a moment to realize that she was being handed the world's worst pick up line. And by a guy with some big hair.

He kept on hitting on her -- and wearing ugly ties . She finally caved -- realizing she'd never laughed with anyone so much in her life. She decided things just might work out if he let her pick out his ties .

They decided on an elopement. In accordance with her edict for "nothing fancy," Jerry placed a plain gold band on her finger. Of course it was engraved "To Pearl from Oscar" -- their "old married people" aliases.

A couple of weeks later, on her birthday, he presented her with the diamond ring he had intended to give her all along.

Nona and Grandpa threw a big post-elopement party for them at the house. Half the population of Point Cadet showed up. I always loved watching the film -- not only to see my mom and dad smooching and feeding each other wedding cake but to admire the trays and trays of food: pusharates, fig roll, hrstule, pig tails and these yummy pineapple filled fingers.

"Pearl" looked like she was having a great time. So did "Oscar."

But then they always did have a lot of fun together.

Pineapple Filled Fingers


The following recipe is fairly labor-intensive so I only ate these at special events like wedding receptions. Like pusharates, these are best made with a group of friends helping out over the course of several hours. This recipe does not double well. The cookies, however, will keep a long time when stored properly in airtight containers. Pineapple preserves are the traditional filling, but you can adapt to your preference. Apricot is also tasty.

Pastry:

2 lbs plain flour, sifted to make 8 cups

1 cup of shortening

1/2 lb butter

5 egg yolks

2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

1 pkg of yeast, dissolved in 1 cup warm milk

2 boxes, (approximately) powdered sugar

1 lb (approximately), granulated sugar

Filling:

2 lbs of pineapple preserves

2-3 cups chopped pecans

Mix well.

Cream shortening, butter and 2 T granulated sugar in a large bowl. Add egg yolks and mix well. Add milk/yeast mixture, alternating with flour. Cover bowl and let rise for about an hour in a draft free location. Sift 1/2 box powdered sugar into a clean bowl. Pinch off marble-sized bits of dough and roll in the powdered sugar.

Roll out each ball on a board that has also been dusted with powdered sugar. Place a dab of pineapple filling in the center of each and roll up jelly roll style. Pinch ends and seam closed so the filling does not escape and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees until light golden. Remove from oven and immediately remove fingers from pan with a metal spatula. Cool on a wire rack or on a brown paper grocery bag. While still warm from the oven, sprinkle fingers with the rest of the granulated sugar. Cool completely and store in airtight containers.