Dinner is Served
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Dinner is Served
It is often said “A picture is worth a thousand words.” A Colombian grandmother slips strips of plaintaino maduros into a blacken cast iron pot sizzling with hot coconut oil, and her granddaughter seated at the kitchen table, speaks about her day at school. Unconsciously, the granddaughter is absorbing her grandmother’s cooking secrets at which she will one day share with her daughter or son, and so on.
On the opposite side of the world, on a warm autumn evening, an extended Romanian family sits on wooden benches outdoors at their wood planked table holding hands and giving thanks for the Cozonac bread their wheat field literally has produced.
Contemporary family life is busy and complex. When adults are working away from home and the children are involved with many activities, sometimes family meals are fragmented. In certain cultures Sabbath, or family day dinners seem to be the only mandatory gathering to sit together and nourish their relationships with food and conversation. Is this tradition disappearing? If so why and what are the consequences?
The photographic - sociological project titled Dinner is Served feeds to the importance of assembly and mainstay that strengthens the most principled foundation in any society. It’s called family.
The photographer offers a visual glimpse into the world of these families, thus immortalizing their customs and traditions. The sociologist journals each family’s dynamic, and their recipes are recorded to be shared with other familys’ worldwide, thus bridging cultures and reducing Sectarianism.
Sociologists use the word “commensality” to denote people eating a meal together. This act of gathering with others at a specified place to partake in the body’s nourishment is universal to all known societies.
The sociological perspective completes images by giving voice to their subjects. When placed into a sociological context, photos offer the viewer a more in-depth understanding of those who are consuming. Thus, the sociological piece illuminates that experience because participants are interviewed, interactions are observed and relationships are discerned. Moreover, sociology enhances the pictures of subjects by placing meals in the context of the culture where they are consumed. The viewer is then shown not just the differences among people around the world, but the commonalities as well. Regardless of language, gender, creed or race – sustenance and family matters.
*****************************
Taylor-Hernandez Family
Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.
11 October 2015
Fernando came into the kitchen to check on the progress of dinner. As he leaned over Maria Teresa’s shoulder to peer into the skillet, she smiled and looked up at him. They speak in Spanish about the food. Then she whispered something which caused him to lean in so he could listen closely. He began to smile broadly. Looking at her for a brief moment, he then turned and left the kitchen, still smiling. It was in their gestures and in their movements. It was on their faces. Love.
The Sunday evening meal for this household is a family affair. Although the mother and aunt prepare the food, the father and sons are their support team. A full trash receptacle is emptied without request. The table is readied and set for the meal, no instructions required. Upon request a large serving dish is immediately retrieved from the storage area. The bottle is taken and lid opened since it was not budging for her. The karaoke machine is set in position for the fun to begin. Even the two-year-old asks to help. He is hoisted up so he can load the blender with onions for the salsa. Love.
There is a wealth of statistical data on Spanish speaking people in the U.S. And, much of it indicates Spanish speakers tend to be very family oriented. Such is the case with the Taylor-Hernandez family – they are very closely knit. What is the element that binds them? What is so very apparent in their interactions before, during and even after the meal? Love.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Sunday is this family’s dinner day!
Family: (Maria Teresa, Bella (her aunt~ mom’s sister), Cody (2 yr old son), Fernando (husband), Christopher (10 yr. old son), Adrianna (Bella’s daughter 8th grade), Nina (Maria Teresa’s mom )
Menu: Cilantro-Lime Chicken, Lasagna and Salsa
Cook: Maria Teresa
Lime Cilantro Chicken
Ingredients
Preparation
NOTE: let chicken stand sit for 30 minutes
NOTES:
Maria-Teresa says, “Mom taught me how to cook and I watch Food Network; read recipes; being with Fernando has opened me up trying to cook Mexican.”
Get Salsa Ready while the chicken is marinating
Website - Mexico in my Kitchen
Sunday dinners are great because Maria-Teresa gets her “me time” while everyone does something else
Normally dinner is a lot later than 5 :-)
Homemade Salsa
Ingredients
Preparation:
NOTE: Preheat oven while everything is prepping
Lasagna
Ingredients
It is often said “A picture is worth a thousand words.” A Colombian grandmother slips strips of plaintaino maduros into a blacken cast iron pot sizzling with hot coconut oil, and her granddaughter seated at the kitchen table, speaks about her day at school. Unconsciously, the granddaughter is absorbing her grandmother’s cooking secrets at which she will one day share with her daughter or son, and so on.
On the opposite side of the world, on a warm autumn evening, an extended Romanian family sits on wooden benches outdoors at their wood planked table holding hands and giving thanks for the Cozonac bread their wheat field literally has produced.
Contemporary family life is busy and complex. When adults are working away from home and the children are involved with many activities, sometimes family meals are fragmented. In certain cultures Sabbath, or family day dinners seem to be the only mandatory gathering to sit together and nourish their relationships with food and conversation. Is this tradition disappearing? If so why and what are the consequences?
The photographic - sociological project titled Dinner is Served feeds to the importance of assembly and mainstay that strengthens the most principled foundation in any society. It’s called family.
The photographer offers a visual glimpse into the world of these families, thus immortalizing their customs and traditions. The sociologist journals each family’s dynamic, and their recipes are recorded to be shared with other familys’ worldwide, thus bridging cultures and reducing Sectarianism.
Sociologists use the word “commensality” to denote people eating a meal together. This act of gathering with others at a specified place to partake in the body’s nourishment is universal to all known societies.
The sociological perspective completes images by giving voice to their subjects. When placed into a sociological context, photos offer the viewer a more in-depth understanding of those who are consuming. Thus, the sociological piece illuminates that experience because participants are interviewed, interactions are observed and relationships are discerned. Moreover, sociology enhances the pictures of subjects by placing meals in the context of the culture where they are consumed. The viewer is then shown not just the differences among people around the world, but the commonalities as well. Regardless of language, gender, creed or race – sustenance and family matters.
*****************************
Taylor-Hernandez Family
Saint Louis, MO, U.S.A.
11 October 2015
Fernando came into the kitchen to check on the progress of dinner. As he leaned over Maria Teresa’s shoulder to peer into the skillet, she smiled and looked up at him. They speak in Spanish about the food. Then she whispered something which caused him to lean in so he could listen closely. He began to smile broadly. Looking at her for a brief moment, he then turned and left the kitchen, still smiling. It was in their gestures and in their movements. It was on their faces. Love.
The Sunday evening meal for this household is a family affair. Although the mother and aunt prepare the food, the father and sons are their support team. A full trash receptacle is emptied without request. The table is readied and set for the meal, no instructions required. Upon request a large serving dish is immediately retrieved from the storage area. The bottle is taken and lid opened since it was not budging for her. The karaoke machine is set in position for the fun to begin. Even the two-year-old asks to help. He is hoisted up so he can load the blender with onions for the salsa. Love.
There is a wealth of statistical data on Spanish speaking people in the U.S. And, much of it indicates Spanish speakers tend to be very family oriented. Such is the case with the Taylor-Hernandez family – they are very closely knit. What is the element that binds them? What is so very apparent in their interactions before, during and even after the meal? Love.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Sunday is this family’s dinner day!
Family: (Maria Teresa, Bella (her aunt~ mom’s sister), Cody (2 yr old son), Fernando (husband), Christopher (10 yr. old son), Adrianna (Bella’s daughter 8th grade), Nina (Maria Teresa’s mom )
Menu: Cilantro-Lime Chicken, Lasagna and Salsa
Cook: Maria Teresa
Lime Cilantro Chicken
Ingredients
- Limes (10 halved)
- Chicken thighs (9 pieces)
- Kosher Salt (½ tablespoon)
- Ground Black Pepper (½ tablespoon)
- Garlic (½ tablespoon)
- Cilantro (1 bunch) - heads only
- Vegetable oil (⅓ cup)
- Gallon Ziploc Bag
Preparation
- Cut limes in half
- Rinse chicken thighs
- Wash and cut heads off the Cilantro bunch
- Squeeze Lime juice in ziploc baggie
- Add cilantro, salt, black pepper and garlic in the ziploc baggie with lime juice
- Add chicken thighs to the ziploc bag (remove the air from the bag) and shake
NOTE: let chicken stand sit for 30 minutes
- Heat oil in large pan (cover the bottom of the pan)
- Remove chicken thighs from the baggie and place in the pan to brown
- Flip the chicken periodically until the skin is crispy
- Place chicken in baking pan
- Pour excess marinade on top of the pan
- Bake at 350 for 30 minutes
NOTES:
Maria-Teresa says, “Mom taught me how to cook and I watch Food Network; read recipes; being with Fernando has opened me up trying to cook Mexican.”
Get Salsa Ready while the chicken is marinating
Website - Mexico in my Kitchen
Sunday dinners are great because Maria-Teresa gets her “me time” while everyone does something else
Normally dinner is a lot later than 5 :-)
Homemade Salsa
Ingredients
- 2 Beefsteak tomatoes
- 5 Jalapeno peppers (adjust to spice/hotness)
- 1 Yellow onion
- Kosher salt (to taste)
- Water (to fill a pot)
Preparation:
- Bring tomatoes and jalapenos to boil in a pot
- Boil for 10-15 minutes or until peppers turn in color
- Sit pan to the side and let the tomatoes and jalapenos cool
- Cut the onion in 4 parts
- Place tomatoes, jalapenos, salt and onion in a food processor
- Blend until smooth
- Add salt to taste
NOTE: Preheat oven while everything is prepping
Lasagna
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon Salt
- ½ tablespoon Pepper
- 4 lbs Ground Beef
- Vegetable Oil
- 1 pack Oven-ready Lasagna noodles
- 1 Spaghetti/Pasta Sauce (red)
- Mozzarella cheese
- Ricotta cheese
- Pre-heat the oven to 325
- Brown ground-beef in pan with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- Oil the lasagna pan
- Put first layer of oven-ready noodles in the pan
- Put layer of pasta sauce
- Put Layer of ground beef
- Add a layer of cheese
- Repeat the layers until the meat runs out
- Make the last layer Ricotta and Mozzarella cheeses
- Bake for 45 minutes