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Juneteenth

Happy Juneteenth! Reflect as you celebrate, like our other Independence Day! 

Here's a post from Quarantine Days (they seem so long ago!) that I hope you enjoy. It was while quarantined on the farm that I began Pantry Food & Foraging to show anxious friends edible plants they could eat, while indulging my love of experiments focused on food and solar cooking.

JUNETEENTH

Today is a great day to start with a family reading and discussion of the Emancipation Proclamation and Reconstruction Amendments. Today would be a great day for a cookout, family, music, and fun. I am making traditional Juneteenth food that is already part of my own southern family's menu, but not going anywhere in person (thanks Covid).

Like July 4, Juneteenth commemorates an important period in our nation’s history to reflect on and celebrate: freedom.

I have raised my children observing April’s historic re-enactment events in Appomattox; it is time we better incorporate Juneteenth.

I was not raised with Juneteenth.
Only as an adult did I become aware of local celebrations, if at all, and felt it was for African Americans, not me. I know I’m wrong- we ALL as a nation should be better celebrating.

No one questions newly-minted citizens celebrating the 4th, why aren’t we all celebrating Juneteenth?
An honest question to ask oneself, as white southerners, is
if Juneteenth
was not a part of your family celebration
or culture or community…
why?

The "Hurrah For Memorial Day!"’s Bacchanalian enthusiasm has always been, to me,
extremely misplaced.

Maybe Juneteenth is more fitting
as a nation
to come together and CELEBRATE-
FREEDOM FOR ALL!!!!! Loudly hear it ring!!!!

(And on a FRIDAY, not a WEEKDAY!)

My menu includes a big, delicious, chocolate chess pie.
Served with a side of The Lost Cause to study and discuss.

Turnip Greens And Blackeyed Peas:
Pick greens, rinse, cut, add to a pot of diced garlic, onion, black-eyed peas and a little broth, and sea salt.


Fried Chicken:
Make batter with bread crumbs from the end of husband's bread mixed with flour, (almond) milk (if you don't have alpha-gal, try sour cream or buttermilk!) salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, cayenne, eggs.

My fried chicken always ends up as Fried Chicken Fritters.
I *do* like batter. Don’t forget to put all the crispy batter bits on the platter!

Red Eyed Gravy Over Potatoes:
I like to cook potatoes the night before, then it is so easy to just slice up and fry. The gravy is made with (chicken) sausage, flour, salt, and this morning’s very strong coffee.

Corn Salad:
The usual minced onion / pimento / ACV with corn but this time instead of sugar use Ames’ Hot Southern Honey!

Garlicky Greens:
...because we need more greens, and garlic! Today, swiss chard. 

And Yes That Chocolate Pie:
Make pie crust, for filling I mixed powdered chocolate, sugar, vanilla, (vegan b/c alpha-gal) "buttr," corn starch and coconut milk then stirred in two eggs.


I was going to head out and pull weeds, plant more beans, and stack wood, it’s the perfect overcast day for it. But Juneteenth should not be a day to labor, for it is a day to celebrate that we all can now rest, when we need.

Lunch served, my teens emphasized I had “...better not put that fried chicken on Facebook!”
I paused, thinking of my own nixing of Junteenth’s traditional watermelon.
This could begin a great discussion on the politics of food, Birth of A Nation, abhorrence of a fruit once symbolizing black self-sufficiency, the balance between appropriation and shared culture. What are YOUR thoughts?

In the end, I decided to make what I make in my own home, regularly.

Juneteenth is a day to dress, like Easter, no, like Juneteenth, because dressing smart adds GLORIOUS JUBILANCE to the festive occasion.
How will you celebrate?

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