Sorrell

Confession is good for the soul so I'm gonna tell on myself.

I made sorrel. For those who don't know, sorrel is a Caribbean beverage made out of the hibiscus flower. I received preparation tips from Carol Brown, who has a seat in the hall of great sorrel makers. Until then, I never made it. However, I do claim to be a serious sorrel connoisseur. Indeed, I was very proud of the result from my first attempt. The deep wine colored drink was embodied with the juice of fresh spicy ginger and contained orange peels and whole cloves, just as Carol instructed. Although, I wanted to sweeten the sorrel with monkfruit, in lieu of sugar, I didn't have any and used agave instead.

I must admit that I do enjoy teasing and can be just a tad mischievous. The person I enjoy teasing the most, is my mom. Why? She is petite, with the confidence of a giant, adorned with the most infectious laugh plus she can handle my pokes. So I called her to solely brag about my delicious sorrel. Delightfully, I stressed that my sorrel was dark in color and strong in flavor, characteristics of authenticity, and not too sweet. I even gloated how I would be happy to send her some. She listened, we shared comments on the ingredients. We hung up. I continued drinking the sweetened and unsweetened batches of my new elixir.

Before going to bed, I had to send a final text to my mom. In the text listed all the Caribbean food that she creates that I have mastered. Each was denoted with a check next to it. Then I wrote, "Only two more to go, bread pudding, (Her bread pudding is scrumptious) and the last giant to slay...FRUIT CAKE!" Now all I have to say is regardless of what you have known previously about West Indian fruitcake, my mom's fruitcake is the best, and I'm not biased. In fact, I have labeled it, the "Fruitcake Haters' Fruitcake." The send button was hit and I went to bed with a big smile on my face, because I was fully aware "fighting words" were just sent. My mother like all seasoned veteran cooks, is more than willing to accept my culinary challenge.

Well this evening I retired early, around 9:30ish. However, around 12:30amish BIG FOOT woke up! Who is BIG FOOT? The tumultuous roar that intensified in sound and "monster-like" movement in my STOMACH!!

BIG FOOT STARTED WALKING! STARTED TALKING! STARTED MOVING EVERYTHING OUT OF HIS WAY! HE EVEN MOVED THE FOOD I HAD AT THE FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL TWO WEEKS PRIOR!! HE REMOVED THE SWEDISH FISH CANDY AND MINI CINNAMON ROLLS FROM MY JOB'S OUTING LAST WEEK,

WHICH I HAD NO BUSINESS BINGING ON!!!

BIG FOOT SAID, "EVERYBODY GET THE HECK OUTTA HERE!!" This may be "TMI" but I was "raptured" for at least 20 -25 minutes begging, "OK Lord, I'm so sorry! I won't mess with my mother any more. OK I'll stop lying. I will still mess with her, but I won't try to make her fruit cake!!!! I will leave it alone!!!!! OKaaayyy Lord I will not brag!! OKaaayyy I won't lie. I WILL TRY not to braggg!! UNCLE!! UNCLEE!!! I SCREAM UNCLEE!! I GIVE UP!! See I forgot in my overindulging of my naturally sweetened delicious sorrel beverage, that the sorrel plant is a blood cleanser. It is an excellent detox and in its natural form can be a laxative. Jesus have mercy on my sin sick soul!!!!!

Moral of the story? Leave your momma alone. Do you hear me? Leave your momma alone!!!!!!. 9/26/21

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Renee Joshua-Porter Executive Director