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DinnerforMyBoyfriendByRoseAnnFaulknerAsachildmyfamily’smenuconsistedoftwochoices:takeitorleaveit.—BuddyHackett1.Bringingaboyfriendhometomeetmymomcouldbecauseforconcern.EvenafterIwasgrown-upandlivingonmyown,IstillworriedhowsomeoneIbroughthomewouldreacttoMom’seccentricideas.Shewasunlikeothermothers,andnoteveryoneunderstoodorappreciatedherunconventionalways.2.RearedbyparentswhoemigratedfromTransylvania,shewasgreatlyinfluencedbythecustomstheybroughtfromtheirhomeland.Growingupdirt-poorduringthedepression,intheYumadesert,Momlearnedthevalueofhardworkandfrugalliving.Herold-fashionedwaysweremanyandshewasdeterminedtohangontothemwhetherwelikeditornot.3.Afanoforganicgardening,longbeforeitwaspopular,Momgrewfruitsandvegetablesinalargeplotbehindourhouseonourfive-acrefarm.Noinsecticideorpesticideevertouchedherplants.Shedidn’tbelieveinbeingwasteful,either.Wormyandbird-peckedfruitsandvegetables,thatothersmightnotfindsoappetizing,madeitintothekitchen.Sheinsistedthattheycouldbesalvaged,nomatterhowmuchhadtobecutofftomakethemfittoconsume.4.Momalsoraisedanimalsforustoeat.Whilethemeninthefamilybutcheredthelargeranimals,Momhadnotroubledealingwiththechickens.Allsheneededwasastumpandahatchet.Onechopanditwasallover.Thentherealworkbegan.5.Thechickensweredunkedinapotofscaldingwater.Thenwe’dpluckthesteaminghotfeathers.Theworstpartformewasscorchingthepinfeathersovercrumplednewspaper.Thesmellwashorribleanditseemedtotakeforevertogetridoftheodoronmyclothes.6.Everypartofthechickenthatcouldbeeatenwasused.Gizzards,liverandheartwereeitherfriedorcookedinsoups.Chickenfeetwereconsideredadelicacytoourmom,nodoubtatraditionbroughtoverbyherparentsfromtheoldcountry.Shewastheonlyoneinourfamilywhoatethem,andaftermanyyearsofmystronglyrefusingtotakeevenataste,sheknewbetterthantotrytogivemeone.Lookingback,I’msuresheenjoyedmyexplosivereactiontoherteasing,sinceitwasobviousthatshewantedtokeepthemallforherself.Icanstillenvisionherholdingachickenfootoverherplateandgnawingonit.7.Agreatcook,Mommadeeverythingfromscratch.Shebakedcakesandpiesthatalwaysdrewraves.Momwasalsoknownforservingavarietyofmeatsthatsomefriendsandfamilyhadnevereatenbefore—andneverplannedto.Besidestraditionalmeatsmostpeoplewereaccustomedtoeating,guinea,peacock,rabbitandgoatmeatwereregularlyonthemenuatourhousewhilepigeon,donkey,andbeeftongueandbrainswereservedonoccasion.Noanimalwascompletelysafeonourfarm.8.Momdidn’tfeelitnecessarytotellherguestswhatshewasservingunlesstheyasked.Shecouldn’twaittoseethehorrifiedexpressiononsomeone’sfacewhensheofferedthemfoodtheyhadneverimaginedeating.ReturningguestswithanervousstomachorsensitiveconsciencewouldnoteatanymeatMomprepared,untilithadbeenpositivelyidentified.Whensomeunsuspectingnewcomercamefordinner,theyweresometimesunhappilysurprisedwhentheyweretoldwhattheyhadalreadyeaten.9.So,whenItookmynewboyfriendtodinneratMom’shouseforthefirsttime,Iworriedaboutwhatshewouldbeserving.Icouldonlyhopethatshehadpreparedsomethinghewouldrecognizeandwaswillingtoeat.Whenwegottothehouse,Iwasrelievedtofindoutwewerehavingchickensoup.Whodoesn’tlikechickensoup?10.Withthepotofhotsoupalreadyonthediningroomtable,wesatdowntoeatandMombeganservingthesoup.Truetoherupbringing,Mommadecertainherguestwasservedfirstandshepouredalargeladleofsoupintohisbowl.Then...oh,no!BeforeIknewwhatwashappeningorcouldstopher,sheaddedaspecialtreattohisbowl.Achickenfoot!Thoughmyboyfriendwascompletelyshockedanddisgustedbythechickenfootinhissoup,hedidnotsayawordaboutit.Buthedidn’teatmuchsoup,either!11.Isometimeswonderifthechickenfootinmyboyfriend’sbowlwasreallyjustatesttofindoutwhatmyboyfriendwasmadeof,todetermineifhewouldbeabletoadjusttoouruniquefamilytraditions.12.Thatboyfriendeventuallybecamemyhusband,withnohelpfrommymom.OvertheyearsI’vemadecountlesspotsofhomemadechickensoup,justlikemymomdid,exceptIusedchickenspurchasedfromthegrocerystore,chickenswiththefeetalreadyremoved.Butmyhusbandwassotraumatizedbythechickenfootthat,for28yearsherefusedtoeatchickensoup,unlessheknewforcertainitcameoutofacan.