For me, eating has become more than just staving off a case of the low-blood sugar crabbies. It’s a balancing act between nourishing my body, thinking about flavors and textures in my mouth, talking and listening to my neighbors, learning and having that warm love feeling float around the table. It’s about discovery and experimenting. Food feeds your body which feeds your brain.

At our Midland Dinner last night – the love and the warmth just gushed into the corner of every room. This family scoops you along and brings you to the family core almost immediately. Big families that include friends and freedom of thought are the perfect combination for comfortable self-expression.

We sat down to a dinner of Soul Food on a cold Wednesday Night inside the brightly lit house. Every room was well lit and welcoming – and for the most part contained at least one dinner diner in it. Horace was in the living room searching for anything Sports-related to watch. Mama Caroline, Stella and Dorothy were seated at the kitchen table laughing and recollecting together. Matt and grandson Cameron were clowning around near the fridge, getting ready to tend to the ribs while Terry put together the finishing touches on the dessert.

Corn Bread, Collared Greens, Steeped Green Beans, Ribs, Homemade Macaroni and Cheese and a flaky Peach Cobbler for dessert. All the Lemonade and Sweet Tea you could drink – was yours for the taking.

Two fellow diners, were on Day 15 of a Daniel Fast. I’ll go more in depth, on the Daniel Fast shortly in another post. But my big take away from the fast, perhaps shows the differences between lives in one state to the next, or one family to the next. Or one woman to the next. Most people whom I have known to go on fasts – did so to lose weight in a hurry for some special event or occasion.

These two were on the fast, for reasons relating to the mental, the soul and love. They explained to me that the Daniel Fast is used to help solve inner demons, restore spirituality and maintain & elevate relationships. A fast feeds your body so you don’t starve – but reserves all your energy to feed your mind and spirit.

Novel concept.

For those of us not on a fast, here is Mama Carolyn’s Cornbread Recipe:

1C. All-Purpose Flour
1C. Yellow or White Cornmeal
2-4 TBLSP. Sugar
1 TBLSP. Baking Powder
1/2 TSP. Salt
2 Eggs
1C. Milk
1/4 C Cooking OIl

In a bowl, mix the first seven (7) ingrediants. Add cooking oil. Mix well.

Pour into a greased 9X9X2 inch baking pan. Bake in a 425 oven, for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 8-9 Servings.