A taste of the south....

While reading The Help I realized that what I know about the south is largely based on Gone With the Wind and Roots. From those two very different perspectives, I didn't know what to think. I feel like Kathryn Stockett filled me in. My naive eyes were opened. I was disgusted and sad, amazed and surprised. I hope and pray that I never treat another human being that way. I recommend this book to EVERYONE.

Even though fellow book babe Crystal already touched on this, I have to agree. The Help had me thinking about food the entire time. After we went to the Screen Door I couldn't get southern food out of my head. Italian, Mexican and Chinese food were all regulars in my kitchen, so I decided to add in deep south flavors. One thing I HAD to try was Minny's caramel cake. Whew, I can see why she said she "had to talk to myself when I make a caramel cake or else I get too jittery" (page 216). It is a process! I stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred and stirred. But I still didn't stir enough. My caramel wasn't quite thick enough for frosting, but it was still gooey goodness. You cut a slice and pour on the sauce.

The only time I can remember having grits was stealing a bite from Crystal's plate at book club. So I also attempted that. I made a chicken bacon wine sauce to go over them. It was pretty good but grits remind me of Cream of Wheat so it was hard to not expect sweet instead of savory. Sometime I will have to try them a la Mae Mobley, Aibileen said "I fix some grits without no seasoning, and put them baby marshmallows on top. I toast the whole thing to make it a little crunchy. Then I garnish it with a cut-up strawberry. That's all a grit is, a vehicle. For whatever it is you rather be eating." (page 283) Yum!

"Got to be the worst place in the world, inside a oven. You in here, you either cleaning or getting cooked"

Yes, I made a ridiculous amount of caramel!!

Elisabeth Brings Up Her Average

Finally.  I finally liked a book that I picked!

Not that I hated my other selections, but I certainly didn't L-O-V-E them either.  I could read them and put them down, and not pick them up again for days without wondering what was going to happen next, or why that character did what they did.

Set in Jackson, Mississippi, during the  1960's, 'The Help' was one book I did not want to put down.  Kathryn Stockett spins the story of two African-American women, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, and one white woman just out of college, Eugenia 'Skeeter' Phelan.  We hear the story through their three voices, which are all very distinct and compelling in their own unique ways.  Aibileen with her kindness wisdom and dignity.  Minny with her spitfire opinions, determination and bravery.  Skeeter with her humor, independence and naivete. 

Skeeter comes up with the idea to compile stories from the behind-the-scenes lives of the maids who work in the homes of wealthy white folk in Jackson.  A project that is as controversial and taboo as they come at that point in USA history.  Despite this, Aibileen bravely steps up to tell her story to Skeeter, followed by Minny.

Don't dismiss this book thinking it will be dry or historical.  It is alive, passionate, humorous, and will help you find a better understanding for injustices that have been suffered in our country.

You may also find yourself with an unaccountable longing for fried chicken, biscuits and coca-cola.