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My cousin, murder and taco soup
Published: 2/29/2012 3:10 PM
Last Modified: 2/29/2012 3:10 PM

I fell in love with writing when I was in fourth grade.

After penning -- more like drawing and wallpapering -- "The Missing Diamond of Chateau Frontenac" in fourth grade, I knew I wanted to write for the rest of my life.

At first, as this epiphany came around the time John Jakes' "North and South" was made into a miniseries, I wanted to write sweeping Civil War dramas. Then, as I started sneaking episodes of "Knots Landing" and "Dynasty" on the little color TV I won through TBS' "Gilligan's Island Castaway Quiz," I developed a passion for soap operas and wanted to create my own one day.

In seventh grade, I did just that and started mailing them once a week to my cousin, Missy, the lone subscriber to Teen-Zine magazine, of which I was writer, editor, illustrator and publisher. In addition to music and style news (all of which I pretty much made up), I wrote a serial about these twin sisters -- Kristin and Kristian -- who lived in a suburb of San Francisco. One of 'em, poor thing, had amnesia, was kidnapped, became addicted to valium and had a worthless husband who was cheating on her with the sister. Goodness ... Oh, and there was murder, aplenty. Mostly, I'd get bored with a character and off them, usually with a firearm. Or they'd just disappear into the sudsy ether. Sigh ... Good times.

I thought about Missy and my silly scribblings quite a bit on Tuesday, which was her birthday. She's 8 and a half months my junior by age but 10-plus years my better in the maturity department. Seriously, she was always so patient with me and gracious to let me send her stuff, read it and STILL claim me as family. She's an extra special person for that -- AND a fabulous cook, to boot, as she got it honest from our grandmother and her own mama, Aunt Sarah.

As I hope we have one more soup-worthy cold spell, I asked Missy to share her famous recipe for taco soup.

Missy's Taco Soup
1 pound lean ground beef
1 can niblet corn
1 can cream corn
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 can diced tomatoes with garlic and oregano
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet ranch dressing mix

1. Brown ground beef, drain. Add remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer under med-low heat. Serve with corn chips or cornbread. Top with shredded cheddar and/or sour cream if desired -- "And I so desire," Missy said.

Peace, love and fictional murder ... XOXO

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tdlrenault (12 months ago)

OK, my bf made this last night (per my request) and it was amazing! He did a little tweaking, as neither of us cares for creamed corn but it was great and we so desired the sour cream as well.

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Living Wright

While other kids were watching "The Smurfs," Scene Writer Jason Ashley Wright was tuned in to "Style with Elsa Klensch." By fourth grade, he knew he wanted to write, and spent almost three years publishing a weekly teen-oriented magazine, Teen-Zine -- circulation: 2. After earning a degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi, he became the medical reporter and teen board coordinator for the Hattiesburg (Miss.) American, a Gannett newspaper. Eight months later, with visions of Elsa dancing in his head, he applied for the fashion writer position at the Tulsa World, where he began working on Aug. 3, 1998. He is now a general assignment reporter for Scene.

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Past Articles By Jason Ashley Wright

2/14/2013		Knowledge is key in Alzheimer's care
2/14/2013		Living Wright: On a roll again
2/13/2013		Recipes: Canebrake chef shares truffle secrets
2/12/2013		Living Wright: Mardi Gras a passport to excess
2/10/2013		Valentine's contest winners: Elizabeth and Rick Franklin
2/8/2013		Tulsa area yet to be represented as 'American Idol' moves to Hollywood round
2/7/2013		Fundraiser, camp benefit kids with heart problems
2/7/2013		Living Wright: Tulsa Flea market trip yields hidden treasures
2/7/2013		Mardi Gras popularity grows as celebrations expand in Tulsa
2/5/2013		Jason Ashley Wright: Another suicide shocks, for now
2/4/2013		Eagle Scouts
2/2/2013		Street Cats to hold its annual fundraiser Feb. 10

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