Time and memory are so intertwined. A recent work, 'Sweet Happiness' brings together the idea of food, time and happiness.
A community food and art project
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sweet Happiness
Time and memory are so intertwined. A recent work, 'Sweet Happiness' brings together the idea of food, time and happiness.
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My 'Sweet' memory was when the elder woman in the family; Grandma and Grandmagrand, Uncle Moe and Uncle Knobby's wives, (my aunts) were in the kitchen my mother included and they would all be preparing the different parts of the meal for whatever holiday we all (everyone in all of the families that made this one unified family)were about to celebrate, or should I just say 'eat great'. Eating was the celebration, but the memory and the joy was in the making of the meal and in particular the "baked mac and cheese." As the up and coming next group of women, me and my older sister were allowed to be involved. We both little cutting knives and after instruction we were allowed to cut the different wedges of cheeses, sharp, extra sharp and mild cheddars. It was a lot of cheese, but being allowed to hang out with the grown ups and here all of the forbidden conversations was so inviting, so intimate. My mom would check on our cuts and grandma would check on her checking on us. It was all good. I now know the check ups were to keep us a little "healthy" scared about messing up, so we would keep our focus amongst all of the soulful, spirited enjoyment going on in that kitchen/workspace. I caught momma draining the macaroni in the strainers/colandars. Then she was mixing the milk with eggs in an old mayonaise jar, I thought she would use every egg in the box. She used a lot! Melted butter, salt and pepper... I still make mac and cheese the same way! Those days in the kitchens are no more, neither are the traditions of the holidays...it saddens me. The elders all passed on and the fathers stop becoming husbands and the women opted for independence over children and domestic responsibilities. It happened to a lot of families I knew. Momma said it was the 'sign of the times.' It saddens me but i managed to teach my three girls and even my sons how to make mac and cheese just the way I use too! After day learned they set about making changes to the recipe, they added different cheese and omitted the extra sharp. They add pasturized cheese products for creaminess and extra cheddar. Their mac and cheese taste good, but its just not the same. It saddens me, so I still make mine the same as the elders use to do!
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