Maw Maw’s Lovin’

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Maw Maw’s Lovin’

by: Ronovan

 Maw Maw

“Down home Southern cooking can’t be beat.

It makes us well rounded from our head to our feet.”

 

That may not be an actual saying down here in the South. By the South I mean the losing side of the Civil War in the US. Although I consider that loss to be winning in the grand scheme of things, don’t you? But that saying fits because of grandmothers in kitchens across these Southern states.

 

For me a celebration was any meal my MawMaw cooked. MawMaw would be Southern for Grandmother for those trying to speak the language, Southern that is. I’m looking at my New York and Ohio friends out there.

 

As a kid you sat either at a card table or at the coffee table. Be slow and it was the coffee table in front of the TV. Quicker and you were closer to seconds of the good stuff. You picked your preference. I didn’t watch TV.

No one cooks fried chicken like a grandmother. I’ve tried and come close but there is just something not quite right. Maybe it’s the healthier things in the cooking oils, back then it was bacon grease. Maybe it’s the change in what chickens are these days, or maybe grandmother’s just put more love into it knowing you’re going to fight for the drumstick because she made it. Whatever it was I’ll never master it.

 

The chicken was always tender inside with a crisp crunchy outside that puts KFC to shame, sorry Colonel. Actually, not apologizing, I take it back. But then there was my favorite that was always there no matter what else was served; Pinto Beans and Cornbread. Pinto Beans were my first solid food as a baby, and of course my MawMaw was the one that fed them to me. To this day if you put those in front of me, I don’t need anything else.

 

I tell you I can just feel the table grow as I shrink down to that little boy again. The room seems bigger. My cousins are around, quiet for once with food in their mouths. The grownups are at the table talking about things that I really don’t care about. I have MawMaw’s love in front of me.

 

She didn’t have much money for a lot of things, actually it was a hand to mouth life, but she always made what she had stretch. I suppose that was the Depression Era in her. She’s 91 now, and still cooking Pinto Beans, Cornbread, and Fried Chicken and her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and great great grandkids still show up for MawMaw’s love.

 

I was one of the lucky ones, way back when I actually lived with her and got that lovin’ all the time. Give me the smell of Pintos cooking and a warm kitchen and I’m a kid again.

 

A memory is a celebration when it’s something like that. A meal to some is a certain time of year, but to me a meal is more than that. It’s a particular food and what memory is attached to it. Beans, cornbread and fried chicken, I keep saying it. But that’s because now I want it. It’s time to put a pot on.

 

© Copyright-All rights reserved-RonovanWrites.wordpress.com-June 13, 2014.

31 thoughts on “Maw Maw’s Lovin’”

  5. Thank you for this. My Gramma was born and raised in Palmersville TN, population of about 200 and I am pretty sure that every one in the town was related somehow. So even though she moved up near Chicago with us when I was a kid, her fried chicken and dumplings were a staple in our house, at least once a week. As a kid I refused to try those black-eyed peas and greens that she made, but now that I am all grow’d up and living in Mississippi (small world), I sure do wish I had given them more of a chance.

    But thanks again, I swear that reading this my kitchen started smelling just a little bit better…

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  6. I’ve finally met someone that had and knows the term MawMaw! Oh, the fried chicken was always the best. I’m right there with you on not being able to make it just the same. Some of my theories are the same as yours on why it might not be possible.

    Absolutely lovely story that reminded me of other family times in my childhood with family and family friends. Thank you!

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    • You’re welcome! And thank you! It was a nice lesson today. A lot of people are choosing times with family that meant a lot as opposed to actual holiday type things. I think it shows a lot about our writing community.
      Much Admiration
      Ronovan

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  7. I truly love the way your writing flowed. I know some about southern cooking living in the south. However I hate fix fried chicken it never comes out right but I can sure BBQ some. Good luck and keep up the good work this was a fun and nice lesson.

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    • Thank you! And thank you for the follow, I followed you as well. If you have Twitter I’ll follow that too. Seeing your email address I would think you should know how to BBQ. 🙂 Wonder if they get you involved in the fundraisers sometimes. 🙂
      Much Respect
      Ronovan

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      • Oh my! I’m in my way out of town or I would be warming up the kitchen about now 🙂 I can’t help but to think of my granny’s pan fried taters, too! THE BEST! Enjoy the squash…now I’m ready to get back home and cook!

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  12. Hi, Ronovan!

    I am now starving! 😀 I could feel the genuine nostalgia oozing from this blog. I could smell the aroma from the meal – each and every single part of it – and envision the surroundings. What a memory! Thank you for sharing!

    ~ Angela

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  13. Those are days I sadly miss. MeMa has been gone 14 years this year and Grandma is trapped in her Altimezer’s haze. Both were the best cooks in the world to their granddaughter. Thank you for bringing those memories back. Cheers, james

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