Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine: Recipes and Reminiscences of a Family

Now charmingly repackaged for its twenty-fifth anniversary: the beloved tribute to a one-of-a-kind family, as told through soul-satisfying memories and recipes. A classic collection of home cooking, remedies, and reminiscences, Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine evolved from a family history project undertaken by sisters Norma Jean and Carole Darden in the late 1970s. Traveling through the Deep South and to Virginia and Ohio, they diligently collected the recipes, rare photographs, and rituals of their family's rich African American heritage. The result was a treasure trove that has only become more valuable as time goes by. Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine introduces readers to remarkable figures, such as their grandfather Papa Darden, a former slave who raised thirteen children and sold his renowned strawberry wine for five cents a glass in his general store. Eighty-something Aunt Lil shares her tried-and-true homemade beauty cream, and ninety-something Aunt Maude recalls George Washington Carver's favorite peanut butter ice cream. There are herbal cures, beauty tips, and cold remedies, but the centerpiece of this special book is a feast of satisfying family-style recipes. Fruited Honey Chicken, Red Snapper with Shrimp and Raisin Stuffing, Rose Petal Jelly--and everyone's favorite--Pecan Brittle are just a few of the treats readers have craved. Heartwarming, fascinating, and appetite-pleasing, Spoonbread and Strawberry Wine is poised for a new quarter-century of devoted readers.