“New memberships flood into R&R……”
We are truly appreciative of the large number of new memberships! It is indeed exciting to see just how many people, from different regions and walks of life, enjoy the website and its content. As one of Air BnB.com’s co-founders recently stated, “Don’t worry over pleasing everyone, find an audience who truly likes your website and message…..” His public interview, after his company went public, was an inspiring and uplifting message to others who are working to build an audience. He was speaking to anyone who has a passion; wishing to connect to like minding individuals via the internet. To paraphrase his remark – “it take years of persistent hard work before your message is heard”. It remains baffling to those of us who work on R&R, just how few individuals have yet to engage with the website but I can assure you, we too are not going anywhere….preservation through sharing works.
A Sweet Delight – Several years ago I was traveling with two friends and simply stated, “I wish my wife would make some stickies.” Each of my companions looked at me as if I was from out of space. Simultaneously, they asked, “what are stickies?” It took me a minute to digest such a question from two well traveled men, highly educated, and gentleman immersed in local culture. I ascertained that one man was really from the Midwest and the other, a young man, had never had the pleasure of eating a Southern Sticky — oh how sad! Upon our return, my wife did fix them but that was the last time since they are full of my two favorites, butter and sugar.
It seems by sharing my recollections of wonderful foods, travel, and childhood memories R&R’s audience also shares and I love it. One individual commented, “my mother talked to her fried chicken — how delicious.” Another wrote that he was writing a book on Southern foods and it goes on and on. The South, as well as other areas, have contributed much to American cuisine. Just look at the popularity of the Lee Brothers cookbooks, a true Charleston story of success. Stickies are one of my favorites and I hope you too have enjoyed them in one form or another.
At our home they are made of dough, sugar, and butter — nothing can be better for breakfast, lunch, or supper! After carefully rolling her dough and cutting it into uniform squares, they are then to be filled and corners carefully folded so that each corner meets in the center of the sticky. The cook acts as if they are so easy and not to be fussed over. But years ago, she was proven wrong, since they are gone within minutes of cooking. Her recipe was not a family secret but a rather one shared via an elderly neighboring lady, who knew Cathy loved to cook. She doesn’t cook them often, but oh how fantastic they are when she does. How did your family prepare stickies or did they?
For me it is difficult to separate the memories I have of great meals from the homeplaces in which they were prepared! Items I and my siblings were often served, without our requests, included: pickled watermelon, pickled peaches, cheese straws, pickled beets, and many items we really didn’t think were appropriate for our eyes or stomach. But we too grew up in a period when there were consequences for returning an unfinished plat. So we somehow learned to eat lots of foods that we have as adults, learned to at least appreciate!
Stickies are made in numerous ways, so share your favorite recollections and other homeplace memories!
From the Porch – Blog @ RootsandRecall.com – 3.23.17