FOOD
Holly somewhere in Upstate New York (2020)
Gallery 4 - Memories of Abundance
Although I don’t really celebrate Christmas anymore I can’t seem to shake off the spirit of the food of this time of year. Food spirits that were very much a part of the first fifteen years of my life.
As I pour a tiny measure of vanilla into a bowl of creamed sugar and butter, and my nostrils grasp at the wafts of sweetness, gentle chills go up my spine.
My eyes well when I hear the buzz of rainbow Christmas lights, brought on by the smell of a perfectly stewed pot of collard greens, the white vinegar hitting every note of my heart’s memory.
These food spirits have the power to make me feel so held during a time of year that can feel cold in so many ways. So these receipts are my (socially distanced and consensual) hug to you.
This gallery is definitely not the FULL spread of the Christmas dinners I grew up with, but it’s pretty close (right, mom?). Recreating it has filled me with a visceral bout of joy (for the lit leftovers) and tenderness (since I couldn’t fill my living room with friends to eat it with me). So I’m excited to share it here, and if you make one of the recipes I hope it makes you feel held.
Check out the Summer, Spring, and Fall 2020 Galleries HERE
Heyyy, wanna get me something for the holidays?
All I want for Christmas is to get this curriculum development project fully funded —> Support Deep Routes and support BIPOC educators & artists as well as help us secure a web developer!
My beautiful older sister Moyna. I love her so much even though she drives me up the wall 89.99% of the time. Number one reason I already have grey hair. PROFILE here!
“I’m someone, if I see that something’s going to make another person happy [e.g. Maya always wanting to make the chocolate chip cookie dough], I just let them have it. I mean they’re cookies. And who didn’t want to make the chocolate chip cookies. You were really good at making them and it was dad’s favorite cookie. So you know, you guarded getting to make them with your life. Again it was about [us as little kids] looking for control in things, when a lot of things were out of your control.”
Taking Stock
The best pot of braised greens is one made with a rich broth or stock, see how I typically make one here.
Holiday Throw-back
Christmas Tree Log Cake at KCC (2013)
I have absolutely no idea why I was laughing so hard in the intro of this video, but I was even more a giggle-pop at 20 than I am now, so I can only imagine it was for something completely ridiculous.