Soul Food Sunday

It was about ten years ago that my Mom and I were having a conversation about food when I mentioned "Fried chicken makes everything alright". Busying herself with something my Mom cracked a smile and chuckled "You're so silly". I was serious though. If you've had a bad day when you get home and walk thru the door and catch a whiff of fried chicken, all of a sudden everything will be alright. Trust me.

Honest to goodness, I can be driving thru Old Glenville on a cool Fall Afternoon the sun can be shining a bright yellow, orange and red leaves scattered across every lawn, listening to the afterwork mix at six when all of a sudden BOOM! Unbeknownst to me I've made contact with a mind altering substance, Fried Chicken. Now, I'm in an alternate universe where everything, no-matter-what, is alright. That my dear reader, is the power of fried chicken.

When my one brother was a teen he would sneak out the house and sometimes be gone all night. One time, he stayed out two nights in a row and our Mother was so worried. My Mom was in the kitchen and I was sitting at the dining room table. I was like, "Don't worry Ma. Fry some chicken". No lie, my brother walked thru the door before my Mom took the first piece out the pan.

Soul Food is powerful like that. It silently whispers into your soul that everything is going to be alright. I woke up this morning in a quiet and peaceful mood. Cleaned the refrigerator really good and was tryna figure out something to cook. Determined to stay in the house and equally as fixed on the idea of making something comforting for dinner.

You would think that I fried some chicken after that whole flashback situation but I'm a Pisces we change direction on a dime so keep up ;-) Anywho, I found a bag of Pinto Beans in my cabinets plus I had some stuff in the fridge and all of a sudden my "What the hell am I going to eat???" turned into a whole ass Three Course Soul Food Soiree thanks to the ice cream sandwich I had for dessert.Completely freestyled, the whole meal was a unique experience composed of simple dishes.

Cooking the beans took me back to the days when I lived on Saywell. In the winter my Aunt Pam would put on a big pot of beans and make soup. Making hot-water corned bread reminded me of when I used to make it all the time for my Grandma Dotty. I probably got the idea of roasting carrots from all the cooking shows her and I watched together on Food Network. Last but not least, roasted chicken. I stopped frying foods cooked for my Mother when she developed heart issues. Choosing a healthier way to prepare meals that are visually appealing fun to eat and delicious is inspired by my Mother, Freda M. Tennant.

Never, have I had a bowl of beans cucumber salad & hot-water cornbread feel so elegant classy and rich. HALLELUJAH! Food so good you catch the Holy Ghost! Soup & salad with an attitude. A whole new experience. I might not have had a dollar in my pocket and all the bills past due but this plate right here...made everything alright. 

That's Soul Food....





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