Three Recipes for Tough Girls
Lynley Jones
From certified badass Harriet Tubman to persistant truth-teller Malala Yousafzai, and all the unnamed women who've held things together from the beginning of time - it's Women's History Month, baby!
Which may prompt one to wonder, if March is Women's History Month, what are all the other months? Well, we already know the answer to that question of course. And though John Adams laughed when Abigail asked that he and his friends "remember the ladies" in our Constitution (they said nope), I'm happy we have this month to do just that.
So - check out the three recipes below in honor of the tough and talented majority who have always supplied the world with its backbone. Power up!
Three recipes for the Fearsome and Fabulous
For Native women taking the lead:
Three Sisters Soup
Iroquois women managed the crops, owned the property and chose the leaders, for hundreds of years before the US Constitution would be written on the very same soil to exclude women from these roles. Native women inspired the first-wave feminists, whose take-no-crap loudmouthedness (yes!) eventually got us the right to vote.
I named this recipe for the "three sisters" crops of corn, beans and squash, considered by many Native people to be female spirits, and traditionally grown together to help each other flourish. Right on!
For African women taking charge:
Lavender Cherry Galette
From Ghana to Nigeria to (now called) Mozambique and beyond, pre-colonial African women were chiefs, queens and leaders. I created this recipe in honor of Cleopatra, the brilliant and ambitious Pharaoh of Egypt who perfumed herself with lavender while navigating strategic relationships with the Romans on behalf of her country.
For powerful girls with something to say:
Quiche, Lorraine-ish
A thirteen year-old peasant girl standing in her father's garden suddenly sees a bright light and hears the voice of an angel telling her not to marry, because God has bigger plans for her.
As an older teenager, Joan of Arc would courageously lead the underdog French army against the powerful English. She refused to conform to “lady-like” expectations, brazenly standing her ground against the most powerful men of her day.
As the most powerful men of our day might say, she was warned, she was given an explanation, and nevertheless, she persisted.
Named for Joan's home region in France, my version of Quiche Lorraine is like girls everywhere: despite the seemingly fragile exterior, it will far exceed your expectations.
Brought to you by some spicy women-owned businesses!
This blend is from our partners at Brundo Spice Company, a Black woman-owned business in Modjo, Ethiopia:
This authentic Ethiopian blend is made using traditional methods by our partners at Brundo Spice Company in Modjo, Ethiopia. Berbere Seasoning has medium heat with a bright zingy flavor. Use it on chicken, fish, meat, veggies, eggs and more. Made with ingredients grown sustainably without pesticides on small farms in Ethiopia.
1/2 cup sized jar.
This turmeric is from our partners at Diaspora Co, an Indian-American woman-owned business in Oakland, California:
We are super proud to offer you this single-origin, heirloom-variety turmeric, farmed without pesticides and harvested and freshly milled each year! This pragati turmeric is an intensely flavorful and aromatic heirloom variety, grown on a 3rd generation family farm in India. 1/2 cup-sized jar.
This blend was created by me, in my very own woman-owned business right here in Montclair, NJ:
Mexican Sweet Blend is our own original blend of sweet Mexican flavors: piloncillo (Mexican brown sugar) and canela (Mexican cinnamon). Bake with it, sprinkle it over fruit, stir it into coffee or hot chocolate, or combine it with savory spices for a barbecue rub. Locally made by us in small batches.
More from Adventure Kitchen:
Corn, beans and squash come together with spinach, garlic and onions to make a complete meal-in-a-pot. Corn, beans and squash are considered by many native people to be female spirits and are often called "the Three Sisters." The three crops are traditionally planted together to help each other flourish.