Jarren Smiths Blog

October 19 I would feed somebody matzo ball soup. It is extremely good and one of the most basic jewish cuisines. It is the same recipe as chicken soup but with matzo balls which are a type of doughy dumpling. I want people to understand that jewish people are very warming and kind to outsiders and they offer matzo ball soup to guests during events so I want people to try a taste of my home.

 Oct 21 I learned from the presentations that culture and customs can come from visits to a country and not just being from there. People take cultures with them when they visit and take some back when they leave but they never lose any, people just continue to become more and more cultured and complicated. 

Oct 15 Any time at my mothers house when we had guests come over I would prepare a simple tomato and mozzarella plate covered in balsamic and cracked pepper. I had always wanted to help with cooking even as a kid so I had made these plates for years. You always serve with bread and if they want it on toast I would prepare it. One day we had some picky guests and I gave same balsamic dressing instead of glaze because my mom told me too. When they arrived and started snacking the husband of my moms friend ( they were our guests ) decided to take the tomatoes and bread and cheese along with some meat my mom kept seperate on a charcuterie board, non Italian meats, and made a big gross sandwich and ruined both boards. He's now an ex-husband.  

 Oct 12 A food I would say is a must try from my culture is latkes. Latkes are basically potato pancakes which are, in my opinion, the best way to eat potatoes. Better then fries, tater tots, mashed, salad, baked or anything else. They are simply perfect and every Jewish holiday they are served with sourcream but you can dip them in anything. It was invented by Italians and Jews which is why I find them so interesting because the only reason I exist is because and Italian and a Jew met and got married, which never happens. Something even more farfetched are my parents, Irish on my dads side  Italian on my moms. 

Oct 13 To me collard greens had always been a very very black dish. My mom told me that years ago when our family was making suggestions for thanksgiving, I named collard greens and my mom and uncles laughed. It changed for me when my grandfather made some of the best collard greens and black eyes peas I have ever had for his thanksgiving. My mom grew up in Rhode Island with Jews and Italians, my grandfather grew up in Georgia with Irishmen and people from the country. Mom assumed it was different probably because she had not grown up with it.

 Oct 1 When the entire Palestine situation was beginning to start way back in my freshman year I had people getting upset with me even though I had no connection to Israel or the Israeli people. People began blaming jewish people in general as the media had made it seem like it was the Jewish people who all supported israel when in reality it is nowhere near true. It was frustrating for sure and I did not know what to do as I could not deny being Jewish. So I believe the part of the story where the other Baltimorean had insulted the boy without giving him a chance hit very deep.