Eat Up

There's a spot in North Carolina that when I was child was heaven. When I was teenager, was hell. And now that I have my own children, is heaven again. It's called Wagram. This is the place where my Mom grew up. You don't really know what the people there are saying either because their country accent is so thick or because they are hispanic. But should you visit you would know this; it is a place where people work hard and a place that holds centuries worth of stories in its barns. A place that has raised many children and watched them die all in the same old big house. A place where still to this day, you may see people from the AME Church being baptized in the swimmin' hole. A place that I hope my children take their children long after I'm gone.

Most of Mom's family still lives there. They make their livings farming and cultivating an impressive plant nursery. During this time of year, an extra special thing takes place. And that is strawberry picking. There are rows and rows of manicured beds with the sweetest, most gigantic red strawberries you've ever seen. When we go, we eat and pick all we can at the same time. Our feet turn black from the sandy soil and our sweat make little racetrack marks down our faces. It is glorious.

There is an old recipe that my Grandma F. has passed down. A little something to do with all your strawberries this season. It is called Punch Bowl Cake and here it is:

1 Angel Food Cake torn apart
1 qt of Sliced Strawberries
1 large Cool Whip
16oz Sour Cream
1c Powdered Sugar
1 Small Can Evaporated Milk
1 Package of Strawberry Glaze

Mix milk, sour cream, cool whip and sugar together. Fold mixture into torn cake. Mix strawberry slices into glaze and place on top of cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Eat Up!