Crackling bread
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 | This article possibly contains original research. |
| http://georgiapellegrini.com.s96354.gridserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/DSC4197-copy.jpg Crackling Bread | |
| Crackling Bread | |
|---|---|
| Place of Origin - Southern States of the United States | |
| Time period of Origin - Time of Slavery in the United States (Officially abolished in 1865) | |
About Crackling Bread
Crackling Bread is a Southern Cuisine which mainly consists of cracklings and a type of bread, usually containing cornmeal. Cracklings are extremely similar to pork rinds and chicharrones, a dish made of fried pork rinds. Another name for Cracklings is gratons or grattons, dubbed by the Cajuns. During the time of slavery, servants would be given pork skin, which they would then deep-fry and incorporate into cornbread batter. Since those times, this rich food has become international. Many countries, including Italy, have had an interesting history corresponding with cornbread as well. Substitutes for the pork skin include raisins and candied peel.
History
As mentioned previously, servants in times of slavery would make do with what was at hand, such as pork skin or lard for flavoring food. Slaves were given mainly undesired scraps of food from their owners' tables. By obtaining weekly cornmeal rations from their owners, and lard from a slaughtered pig, slaves were able to create a hearty dessert. Delicacies such as Crackling Bread helps servants tremendously by letting them indulge in a tasty treat once in a while, keeping their spirits high and their will strong.
To Kill A Mockingbird Reference
In the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, Crackling Bread is referred to when Calpurnia, an African American servant of the Finch family, bakes Crackling Bread for Scout Finch as an apology. "'Shut your eyes and open your mouth and I'll give you a surprise,' she said. It was not often that she make crackling bread, she said she never had time, but with both of us at school today has been an easy one for her. She knew I loved crackling bread.". This goes to show that cuisine in Southern Alabama is quite unique in the usage of food on hand. In an overall sense, Crackling Bread is a symbol for the theme of the book; one of which is prejudice. Scout enjoys Crackling Bread, regardless of the place of origin or who invented it. She is simply judging the dessert by how it tastes and how delicious it is. This suggests that assessing somebody or something by their inherent qualities rather than background is imperative. One should be judged solely on their individual aspects, unmindful of their race or place or origin. Crackling Bread is a cuisine invented by African American servants during times of slavery, but Scout enjoys this delicacy nonetheless. This cuisine also helps to unite Scout and Calpurnia by letting Scout sample African American culture. Scout enjoys Crackling Bread for what it tastes like, rather than the origin, suggesting that people should not stereotype against races and instead should base their impressions on individual characteristics.