EciltoR's NoTe
mother's home and have Chicken
A
-,
bout once a year I go
Marbella.
home, to Kansas City. I've
The older I get, the more I realize
got to confess that I get
the
profound value of ritual, which
sentimental about it. I love Detroit
is probably why I like Judaism s
and wouldn't live anywhere else,
much.
There's such a wealth of tra-
but there's so much that's familiar, in
dition there. I feel comforted by
a nostalgic kind of way, about
knowing that no matter what else
Kansas City.
happens in a week, on Friday night
\-- Each time I visit, I force my mother
my family will all sit down together,
(who still lives there) to indulge me
just the five of us, and have chicken
in my tender trips down memory
soup
and kasha and pickles soaked
lane.
in garlic (these are Talya's favorites.
I like to drive by my old apart-
Though
she's just 1 year old, she's
ment, with its rickety balcony where
an absolute addict). Each Shabbat
I used to sit and eat breakfast. It
morning I'll fix a cup of coffee,
was once a grand place, built for .
filled to the brim with one of those
,oldiers returning from World War
delicious
flavorings that are sup-
I. But even before I left 10 years
posed to be reminiscent of a quiet
ago it was starting to fall apart. Its
afternoon
in the hills of Ireland or a
once-white pillars had begun to
bustling cafe in France. My children
decay, and the heating worked
and
I will talk and then play, and
poorly.
don't get dressed until late. Then
I'm also adamant about getting a
we
go to shul where they are very
limeade back in KC. I'm still not
excited to see my husband, Phillip,
wild about Vernor's, but I under-
and we'll all walk back together.
stand this emotional attachment to a
Sometimes on Shabbat afternoon I
drink because, like many of my fel-
prefer
my privacy; when it's just
low Kansas Citians, I've got
family, we have cholent and salad
limeade running through my veins.
with
a lot of elegance, but little fan-
Not that bottled stuff — I'm talking .
fare. Other times we invite a big
fresh. Made before your very eyes,
crowd
(preferably guests who have
it consists of juice squeezed out of
very diverse views, because I like
the lime, sugar and soda water.
spicy conversation) and we talk all
' Delicious. Tingly.
afternoon, drink schnapps and dine
I also count on my mother to
on a smorgasbord of kugels, sweet-
make a dish called Chicken
potato casseroles, salads and chick-
Marbella, with olives and prunes
en.
It's a wonderful way to meet
and capers. A strange collection of
new
friends, and catch up with old
ingredients, but it's so yummy.
ones.
Perhaps it sounds ridiculous that a
Do you have Jewish traditions that
\_T limeade makes for an important ritu-
are important to you? Please write
/— al for me. I think really it's not so
and
tell me (AppleTree, c/o The
much the taste (though I do love it)
Jewish News, 27676 Franklin
but rather the tradition. I got them
Road, Southfield, MI 48034) or fax
practically every day while I lived
me (248-354-6069) or e-mail me
in Kansas City.
(philapple©earthlink.net
). I look for-
So, too, while I could certainly
ward to hearing from you.
live without Chicken Marbella, I
love the regularity of having it. It
Elizabeth Applebaum
makes me feel secure and safe, like
everything will go on forever as it
has; those limeades always have
been there and always will ;De, and
I'll always be able to ao to my
AppleTree Edit° ,
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF METROPOLITAN DETROIT
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ire ibschoot
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