Celebrating Heritage At The Table

What's your story? Your Cultural History? How does a person preserve their culture? 

There are so many ways people preserve and celebrate their heritage, but to me the most spectacular and fascinating way is through food. Our ancestors had traditions that involved a form of a kitchen, food, and a dinner table (which looks different all over the world).  That is where many stories were formed and told.  

People gathered to nourish their bodies and during that time their souls were refreshed.  I think about my family and my up-bringing.  The table was so important and so was good food.  My grandmothers raised my parents with the strong belief that food, family, and God should always be present at the table.  I have recipes that my family have cherished, and so many amazing memories are attached to them.  Stories, love, and laughter. 

I don't ever want those recipes to die (because with each family recipe there is history and our cultural upbringing). For me, to preserve those recipes and to cherish the time spent at the time is my way of preserving my story, my cultural history.  So I thank my mom, Becky, my grandmas Bonita and Cleo, and all the other women who came before them!

Bonita's Swedish Kringle

• 1 1/4 c flour

• 3 tbsp water

• 1/2 cup butter or lard

Mix like a pie crust, put on a large cookie sheet in 2 long strips about 3 inches wide or so

• 1 c. water

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1 c. flour

• 3 eggs room temp

• 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Put water in a saucepan with butter - heat to boiling point - add the flour - beat until smooth - add eggs - one at a time and beat well after each.  Add almond extract.  Spread on first mixture and bake 60 min at 350 degrees.  When cool frost with:

• 2 c. powdered sugar

• 2 tsp. butter

• 1/2 tsp. almond extract 

Enough milk or cream to make spreadable.