Food

Food is awesome. As you can probably tell, we are very close friends. Food, especially in the South, is considered a past time. Social events, family get-togethers, holidays, church activities all involve some component of food. One of my fondest memories of food is every October; our little country church has our annual homecoming. This includes a special service with dinner on the church grounds. We have this almost 300 foot long table under a shelter and people from miles around bring their covered dishes full of great food to fellowship and reacquaint themselves. I remember being just tall enough to look over the table at all of the food, as far as the eye could see. Another custom in the South, children cannot fix their own plates. So I would wait for my grandmother to fix mine for me. I would tell her what I liked and she would place it on my plate. If you went home hungry after homecoming, it was your own fault. Several people we known at homecoming for making special dishes. My Aunt Imogene would always bring Bar-B-Qed goat (and the world’s greatest coconut cake), my grandmother made her signature dressing, Lawanna made an awesome fruit salad, and Ms. Orie always brought deviled eggs. Food unified us. It was the soothing balm applied to our lives that helped us forget, just for a moment, that we had troubles and trials.

From campaign fish fry’s to family cook-outs on the river, food has always been a dear friend.

Here is a great recipe that you might enjoy. It was my grandmother’s favorite.

Grandma Sirmans’ fruit cake recipie

You'll need the following: a cup of water, a cup of sugar, four large eggs, two cups of dried fruit, a teaspoon of baking soda, a teaspoon of salt, a cup of brown sugar, lemon juice, nuts, and a bottle of whisky.Sample the whisky to check for quality.

Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again. To be sure it is the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and beat again.Make sure the whisky is still okay. Cry another tup. Turn off the mixer. Break two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers pry it loose with a drewscriver.Sample the whisky to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares? Check the whisky. Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something. Whatever you can find.Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out of the window, check the whisky again and go to bed.