With Every Passing Day...: Bringing the Southern USA to England! :)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Bringing the Southern USA to England! :)

In true “surviving graduate school ” tradition, Hilary Term was peppered with various pot-luck dinners with our little gang… But without a doubt, our best-hatched plan yet was Southern USA night! After months of craving biscuits (and yes, I mean the real ones, not the British version of cookies… Haha) and gravy (and you should see the looks of shock and horror when we attempted to explain that “Yes, you put the gravy ON the biscuits”), we decided it was time for an introduction… Oxford. Meet collard greens, fried chicken, and homemade macaroni and cheese! :)

So Anna and I insisted (with much urging and promises of home-made fried chicken from Steve!) on bringing a little of our own culture and heritage from southwestern Virginia to all our British (and even occasionally northern American) friends! It only seemed a fair turn-about, since we’d spent the better parts of the past 6 months adapting to their British “Fish n’ Chips” and “Bangers and Mash”…

Two southern gals and a tableful of home-cooked food… How very appropriate… :)

Anna and I spent the WHOLE afternoon in the kitchen, having a fabulous time… We admittedly made quite the cooking duo with I taking all glutinous, meat based foods, and Anna on vegetarian/gluten-free duty… There was much wine involved… Some of it even made it into the food (Yet another great southern tradition)… ;) And we had a great time reminiscing old recipes, while also making several up along the way (often in an effort to adapt our recipes to the availabile ingredients! Haha Don’t even get me started on the lack of cheese selection in England!) It was the perfect way to unwind from a morning spent sitting for my first Oxford Written Exam! :)

All in all, the evening was quite a success… The men even managed to find Southern Comfort (for a toast, that was NOT directed at the Queen, for once… Haha) and Budweiser… If we’d had NASCAR or football (American style), the evening would have been truly quintessential! We have decided that when Trinity Term convenes in May, we will have to put a night of either “Breakfast for Dinner” or “Americanized British Classics” on the calendar!