What are you learning about the way writers express their ideas about food? Something that I have learned about the Rhetoric of Food is that writers have so many different ways to express their ideas about food. The mediums can be short stories, they can be poetry, videos, restaurant reviews, blogs, and movie trailers. Being able to use all of the literary mediums and a multitude of delivery forms allows many types of people to read about the rhetoric of food. “Food Cultures” are important  to each person, for me they different for each person as they are significant to each person, and their cultural heritages and the important to the foods that they can consume. When we worked on the annotated bibliography and we learned so many ways food connects to power, history, politics, race, gender, nationality and other identity markers. Cookbooks can be geared towards genders, the kitchen is considered to be a “feminine space”, burgers/wings are considered to be masculine foods, and how certain foods seemed to be racial and other certain people have the power to cook those things.

Tea by H.H. Munro and Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen by O. Henry

https://americanliterature.com/author/o-henry/short-story/two-thanksgiving-day-gentlemen

https://americanliterature.com/author/hh-munro-saki/short-story/tea

After reading through these two dramatic short stories the formal/functional elements of a short stories are these: characters, setting,  plot, conflict, and theme. Each of of these stories contains characters, that take part in the action of the short story. Sometimes the stories have a main character that the story is based around.

The setting of those stories are times and places in which the story happens. Both of these authors use descriptions of landscape, scenery, buildings, seasons or weather to provide a strong sense of setting. Giving the reader an image of the short, allowing them to transport them selves into the eyes of the author.

The plot of the short stories is also prominent: it is a series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict of the story. Moving on to my next point the conflict, which one of the most vital parts of the short story. The conflict is a struggle between two people or things in a short story and the main character is usually on one side of the central conflict. While on the other side, the main character may struggle against another important character, against the forces of nature, against society, or even against something inside himself or herself whether it be their feelings, emotions, and even illness.

Lastly is the theme is the belief  and or the central idea of a short story. Even though the short story needs to have each one of these elements, the order of them per story varies. The theme can be introduced in the beginning and you can learn about the character later in the story. The setting can be introduced in the middle of the story following the conflict and the plot of the story.

O. Henry short story was filled with twists and surprises. The twisty endings shows us that good intentions may have bad consequences. Indeed the ending seems to support the view of the narrator`s ironic and mocking tone expose the foolishness of gentlemanly generosity. Even with H.H Munro the romantic suddenness of the affair in some measure compensated James’s women- folk for the ruthless negation of all their patient effort and skilled diplomacy. Creating  a sudden twist at the end of the story with the complicated romance of the main character. 

Genre: Dramatic Short Story

Chopin, Kate. “The Story of An Hour.” Vogue (1894): n. pag. Print.

                              When asked to discover a mentor text that we would like to emulate, It took me a while to think of one. There seems to be a lack of dramatic short stories about food out there in the world, and I decided to choose this style of writing as my mentor text. I wanted to focus on Kate Chopin’s short story “The Story of an Hour;” a piece of literature that we studied, analyzed and critiqued in my previous English class.

                              This story displays the emotional roller coaster that Louise Mallard suffers after hearing about the death of her husband, Brently, who was believed to be dead after a railroad disaster. Mrs. Mallard has heart problems; so, her sister and friend deliver the devastating news try their best to deliver the news to her. After hearing this she runs and locks herself in her room to mourn her loss. However after a while she begins to consider her life outside of being married, she believes her “[b]ody and soul [are] free!” Sadly when she hears her husband enter the house, she suffers a heart attack, Brently flies up the staircase to see the body of Louise lying on the ground.

                              The structure Chopin has chosen for “The Story of an Hour” is a series of short paragraphs, many of which consist of just two or three sentences. The dense structure mirrors the intense hour Louise spends contemplating her new found independence. This story can be read quickly, making the impact so much more dramatic. Due to the fact that a short story leaves no room for background information, flashbacks, or excessive speculation, Chopin succeeds in making every sentence important by employing an almost poetic writing style. She uses repetition to highlight important points, also repeating phrases and sentence structures to highlight important points. Chopin makes the prose of the story beautiful by using alliteration and internal rhymes using stylistic and structural techniques making this very short story powerful.

                            I would like to mimic Chopin’s stylistic writing in my short story, I would like to make my short story about food powerful, and creates a mental impact to the reader. Using a slightly poetic tone with my writing, I enjoy the way she flows from thought to thought fluidly. Stories like this are uncommon, and I wanting to emulate this style of writing for myself, noting that my writing is more concise. Using my concise writing style and making it more complex and fluid.

                         My topic of choice is analyzing cookbooks through out time and looking at how gender roles have enforced through out cooking and the “feminine space” of the kitchen.  Can man provide food for his family and be manly? Is kitchen the woman’s domain? Is society to blame? Men and women have been forced into standardized roles based on their sex. As a society we have perceived masculine roles to be paired with dominance, aggression, and fear; while feminine roles are associated with passion, nurturing and caring. The placement of these categories start with us at birth, repetition of these created socialized gender roles over time leads men and women into a false sense that they are acting naturally, rather than following a socially constructed role. Society teaches us that gender roles are based on natural differences between the sexes, but on the stereotypes based on the patterns of men and women.  A pattern that cookbooks have helped enforced: the Virginia Housewife (1800s), The Sour Cream Queen(1950s), The Hostess cookbook (2000s). Each one of these books not only use their title, but the wording and some times the visual images are geared towards women.  I want to use cookbooks and their content to further enforce the idea of “socially” acceptable gender normative ideas.

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/5-tips-for-throwing-a-1950s-dinner-party5.htm

http://www.cheftalk.com/t/6661/1950s-americas-popular-food-and-recipeshttp://hdmzweb.hu.mtu.edu/cookingbooks/?page_id=871

http://libguides.uky.edu/c.php?g=223240&p=1478068

Research update at moment, mine is going well at the moment. Using the web I have located a few readings that I would like to look further into recipes from the 1800s. Using the UT library database is a little difficult at first but when I went to librarian she was able to help me use the system. I have been to the library to look into the history in that time period: historical events that can alter why recipes are created and the tone the author used while writing. I still have a lot of work left to complete, but right now I feel like I am at a good starting point.

The scent of wet cedar wood on a crisp fall afternoon in central Louisiana floats through the open window kitchen. However that scent filling you home is not alone, there are cookies cooling on the open window sill embracing your nose in a comforting scent of cookies, something that makes your eyes water with joy. The whiff of the air was a sensual experience that I have not forgotten since I was 11 years old. This recipe is an adaptation of my late grandmother’s tea cake recipe is something I need to share with the world. A tea cake is a cookie that is believed to have their beginnings in slavery, are not only easy to make, but they can brighten any darkness you can have. When I would cry she would tell me “this is my gift of love for you my child, a piece of my heart passed to you,” to this day I hold that to my heart. She helped me with these tiny bundles of joy; it is my turn to teach some one new.

Grandmom’s Southern Tea Cakes (adapted)

Preparation will take about 50 mins

Baking time is 8 mins

About 1 hour for completion of the cookies

• 1 cup of softened butter
• 1 ¾ cups of white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups of all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

Tools: Baking sheet, spoon, cutting board, measuring cup, tea/table spoons, a mixer (hand and/or standing), spatula, 2 bowls (large and medium) a butter knife, and a rolling pin

Tips

1. Using butter on the pan instead of cooking oil will help the cookies stay moist
2. Refrigerating the cookies 10 minutes after the oven help maintain their freshness
3. You can add food coloring to the batter to liven up the cookies
4. Parchment paper can be used for easier cleanup/removal of cookies from the pan.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). In a medium bowl, blend the butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in the almond extract, and then proceed to beat in the 2 eggs one every 5 minutes. In a separate larger bowl blend all of the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Then combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, and proceed to mix them all together until thick and creamy. Grab a cutting board and pat some flour on it, then knead dough for a few turns until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for about 10-15 minutes, until batter is firm. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to ¼ inch in thickness. Cut the dough ½ inches apart and then roll them with your hand and place on the buttered cookie sheet. Use a spoon to pat the cookies into a circle, and then place them in to the oven for about 8-10 minutes. Let them cool on the oven for 5 minutes, and then share with others and enjoy.

Original Recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/25766/grandmas-old-fashioned-tea-cakes/

The majority of recipes follow the same the rhetoric regiment. Recipes start off with a quick introduction about the dish that the reader is going to recreate. To then be followed by a list of the ingredients; great recipes will include exact measurements of the ingredients, as well as serving size. Next, recipes list the steps needed to make the rest of the dish. The instructions are written so readers can follow along; in certain recipe steps are numbered and easy to read, or are split into short paragraphs. Some recipes will list out the ingredients on top, while other recipes will format it so the ingredients on one side and the instructions on the other. Recipes are the gate way to interpersonal connections between anyone and the rest of the world. Over time they have been translated into multiple languages, and come with a variety of pictures so that anyone can comprehend the recipe. Taking something outside of your bubble, learning the ingredients, cooking the meal, and the experience you gain from one meal: oneJaffrey(1999)OkraTomatoes recipe. Madhur Jaffrey, born in India; is a television personality, a food/travel writer, and cook who has won many awards over the years. Being inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s Cookbook Hall of Fame in 2006; she was recognized from bringing Indian cuisine to the Western world. In her book Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian, published in the 1999 this book contains preparation and the techniques for cooking the Indian based cuisines. This book contains about six hundred vegetarian recipe dishes for all over the world. The recipe entries each contain the original saying of the recipe, along with a little excerpt about the story of each recipe; next to the recipe title she offers a cultural implication about the origin of the recipe. One of Madhur’s recipes Okra with Tomatoes found on page 253 of her book comes with an passage that states “those of Indian-Muslim descent in Uganda, with a topping of scrambled eggs or even an omelet” (Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian) she gives the reader/possible chef some taste of where the recipe came from. Although the main audience of this cookbook is intended for vegetarians, it is suitable for anyone who wants to introduce flavor filled veggie based meals into their diets. Even the vegetarians would want to try different flavors and different recipes. This recipe has the potential to appeal to many types of people; I feel that authors pay attention to the wording of recipes. Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian cookbook does no appeal to college students, or may someone on a tight budget, due to the wide range of ingredient options and how you don’t find the words “quick” or “cheap” located throughout the book. Recipes allow people to get a glimpse in the author cultural lifestyle, like me Paula Deen was born and raised in the south and her recipes reflect that. A recipe that my family and I have mastered is her Lady and Sons Fried Pork Chops, a recipe that is located on the Food Network website. Recipes found on website today are wildly popular; people have access to so many recipes from all over the world. Recipes on Food Network allow people to rate and comment on all of the recipes, allowing the website to see what recipes are favored over others. Due to the power of media influence accessing recipes from various cultures is a breeze, you can type in any recipe and find a multitude of results. Food is something that people can agree with worldwide, something that connects us, food a social construct that allows society to flourish.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/lady-and-sons-fried-pork-chops-recipe.html