After a brief hiatus from GRITS, I am back to you and ready to go!! The last time we met, I told you all about the first Southern Belle symbol, magnolias... Now it's time for number two.
The kitchen is the center of Southern family life. It is where memories are made and good times are had. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to spend their time in the kitchen with their family? The laughs are almost as rich as the smell coming from the stovetop. Let’s just say, it’s called “comfort food” for a reason: fried chicken, cornbread, fried green tomatoes, biscuits and gravy. All of these dishes are made possible by the Iron Skillet. For a southern belle, the iron skillet represents the flavor that makes our neck of the woods so warm and inviting. Not only is it essential to our cuisine, but it also a treasure heirloom, representing a family’s customs, heritage, and accomplishment. Many of fights between sisters have been waged over who would inherit the family skillet and, in turn, help continue the family name.
The cast iron skillets are nothing like what you would find in Target or any other superstore. A work of art, a true skillet is handcrafted. You can always tell your iron skillet is genuine by finding its "scar." Although sometimes though of as a blemish, the scar is actually a mark of authenticity and adds to its character.
Iron skillets are a crucial tool for southern women everywhere. They symbolize the family name and help personify the etiquette and appearance portrayed by that family. Like the belles who cook with them, they get better with age and no two skillets are identical. They each have their own scrapes and dents with stories to go with them. A true southern belle is packed with flavor and character, just like the food they serve to their loved ones. In closing, I provided a perfect example of an outfit that a southern belle could wear while cooking for their guests. Remember, no one should ever leave a southern house with an empty stomach.
Until next time,
kCa
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