Pap’s Special is here!

Today is a pretty special day at From the Ground Up Books.

We’re officially serving Pap’s Special at Pinkies Out Tea Parlor in La Grange.

This isn’t a recipe we found online or something we dreamed up for a menu. It comes from my family.

Pap was my and Lora’s grandmother, and this was one of her recipes. It’s simple, hearty,

slightly messy, and exactly the kind of food that brings back memories the second you smell it cooking.

Pap’s Special is made with ground beef, onions, green peppers, garlic and golden mushroom sauce, piled onto a bun with optional provolone cheese and served with your choice of chips or fruit.

It’s comfort food. No fancy explanation required.

And that’s exactly why I wanted it at Pinkies Out.

When we started thinking about lunch specials, I didn’t want to simply add more things to the menu. I wanted to bring some of ourselves into it. Food has stories just like books do. Recipes get passed down. They remind us of people, kitchens, holidays and ordinary afternoons we didn’t realize we’d miss someday.

So we’re starting something new: Favorite Family Recipes.

We’ll be sharing dishes from our FTGUB family, along with the stories and people behind them.

And we’re starting with Pap.

Pap’s Special launches TODAY at Pinkies Out Tea Parlor inside From the Ground Up Books in La Grange. It will be available Thursday through Saturday while supplies last.

Our regular luncheon sandwiches, teas and scones are still available too.

Come have lunch with us, browse the books, drink some tea and try a little piece of our family history.

I’ll be there today, and I’d love to see you.

From the Ground Up Books & Pinkies Out Tea Parlor

Historic Ballard House

La Grange, Kentucky