Now that our internet is back-up, the dreaded battalion FRG meeting is over (with one more to go)Â & I’ve cleaned up Maggie’s “oh-my-god-where’d-they-go” anxiety-driven chewing fit, we can get back to the business at hand.
So let’s see…where was I?…
Oh yes, there was something about kicking & someone was screaming…it’s all a bit fuzzy.
[scratching head]
Ah!…I remember. We’re embracing Korean culture!
Yes, yes…embracing Korean culture.
So if you’ll turn to page 3 of your Life in Korea with Jenn manual, you’ll see that our first lesson is holidays.
Specifically, Chuseok.
Chuseok is a Korean holiday to celebrate the autumn harvest.
Kinda like our American Thanksgiving, but without the Pilgrims…and the Indians….and the Cowboy game….and I’m pretty sure they don’t do that whole marshmallow-sweet potato thing.
(I won’t get to see the Cowboy game this year – no American TV.)
[remembering to refocus]
Anyway…Where was I?….
Ah yes, harvest.
Just as American Thanksgiving falls every 4th Thursday in November, Chuseok falls every…
every….(fudge – where is it?…I just had it)…
ah, every 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
What does that mean?…Well, I have no clue.
But last year it was mid-September. And this year it’s October 2nd – the 4th.
But as you can see, the rice is getting fuller & fuller…almost ready to harvest.
Nearly all the peppers have been picked & are drying.
The buckwheat they laid out earlier…
…has all been dried & bundled up.
They’ve shelled & dried various kinds of beans & peas.
The last of the squash will be ready not too much longer now.
And the fall lettuce they planted just a week or two ago…
…is almost ready to be picked.
(Do you ’pick’ lettuce?…I know you pick beans – pick tomatoes – pick corn, but lettuce?…It just doesn’t sound right…Hmm…maybe you pluck it. Plucking lettuce?)
What I find the most amazing is that these pictures aren’t just of the Lumber Baron’s fields.
Every Korean…in every space…big, small or street corner…is planting, growing & picking the same things.
Which leads me to your first homework assignment…which I’ll get to in a second.
This lovely action hip-shot is of Mrs. Lumber Baron – that’s her in the left corner, smiling.
(I’m still afraid to ask if I can take her picture so I keep trying to sneak one in. Granted…I can’t remember how to say ‘ can I take your picture’, but still.)
Mrs. Lumber Baron has been extremely kind to me & Moo.
Over the summer she’s handed us apricots & sunflower seeds to share from her own garden.
And because I walk past her almost everyday, I’d like to give her something in return – for Chuseok.
So your homework assignment for today is to come up with an idea of something I can cook, bake, etc. to wrap up & give to Mrs. Lumber Baron.
…My assignment is going to be finding someone to write ‘Many thanks & Happy Chuseok’ in Hangul.
Hangul: Hangul is the name for the Korean script-writing. Koreans speak Hangul – just as Americans speak English.
I don’t want it to be something too sweet…I don’t think Koreans have the same taste for sweets Americans do. But something representative of fall…and autumn harvests…and American Thanksgiving.
So there you go. Please have your assignments completed & back to me no later than Friday, September 25th.
Class dismissed.
8°F
Hmmmm….what about a couple loaves of zucchini bread…not too sweet and kind of goes in with the fall harvest. I’ll keep thinking. I have to know what a KIT is. And what did you fix for your pot luck? I’m sitting on the edge of my seat over here!
I agree along the lines of Val. How about banana or pumpkin bread? But I’ll keep thinking.
In our garden, we clip our lettuce with scissors.
As far as something to make — chips and queso, or zuchini bread, or friendship bread because then you could give her a starter and the instructions that someone has helped you translate and the name is nice, or sour dough bread, or homemade chex mix, or white chocolate covered pretzels. I’m hungry now. Thanks.
I’d say spiced pecans. Emphasis more on the spice than the sweet. I’ve got a great recipe if you’d like it. The pumpkin bread is a good idea, too. I’ve got a great recipe for a savory pumpkin yeast bread that’s super easy to make, but looks really impressive.
With all the pictures of the drying peppers, I’d say they are pretty used to spicy food, so my overall advice would be to go with something with a little kick.
And I agree with Val – I want to hear what you ended up making for the pot luck!