What’s ya makin’ Nanny?
My great Aunt Annie lived on Battery Lane in Nashville. She was a
lovely proper lady of society, applied her lipstick consistently
outside the lines, and opened her home for many a cause and
party. It was the late 30’s. She asked her little neice, my mother,
to greet her guests at the door for a luncheon she was hosting in
her home. My momma was around 7 at the time and was thrilled.
My grandmother (“Nanny”), Aunt Annie’s sister was a wonderful
cook. Aunt Annie often asked Nanny to cook for special
occasions. In addition to making some mean fried chicken, she
was also a little crazy. Never certified, but if you spent any time
with her you knew. She was sweet, giving, loving, fun and
hilarious, but she also had a side of her that was a little Joan
Crawford. She had little quirks about her and an outlook on life
that if you didn’t share the same outlook, it was best to stay outta
her way when she got miffed. Most of the time my family accepted
her crazy side because she was quite entertaining!
Nanny didn’t like you to lift a lid on a pot when she was cooking…
actually she didn’t even like you in her kitchen when she was
cooking. I believe it was birthed out of her sweet side…wanting to
surprise those who would partake of her vittles. I can picture her
now…standing over her stove…stirring the steaming pots and
taking a sip of her Big Red coke. If you were brave enough to ask
Nanny what she was cooking, she would never give you a straight
answer. Ever. One answer gets repeated at every family holiday
dinner. “What are you cookin’ Nanny?” “Hearts, livers, lungs, $#
%hole, beef and tongue.” You read that correctly. That’s what she
said. Now you have a better picture of Nanny.
Back to the luncheon at Aunt Annie’s. Nanny was in the kitchen
cooking and my momma was standing at the front door dressed in
her beautiful pale blue dress, petite white gloves and new black
patent shoes…ready to greet the party goers. The ladies started
arriving in their lovely party dresses, hats, gloves and bright red
lipstick. My momma would hold her dress, curtsey and say “Hello
Mrs. Greenhills, pleased to see you” then she would guide them
to the affair.
After momma greeted all of the guests, she mingled with them
while she waited to help serve lunch. A small group of the ladies
were making conversation with momma. Mrs. Flora Jones asked
in her slow southern accent “Little miss Marilyn, something smells
good. What is your momma cooking up in the kitchen today?” I’m
sure she was waiting to hear something like creamed chicken on
Emma’s homemade biscuits. “Oh, momma’s cookin’ up some hog
nuts and cabbage for y’all.”
My mom remembers well that the ladies began to fan themselves
and say “Ooooh. Ooooh. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness” like
they were going to faint. Momma had no idea why because she
was just repeating to them what her mom told her she was
cooking!
This makes me want to have 1930’s party and get my little neice
to greet at the door! Surely shoulder pads would take the eye off
of my “waistline” and white gloves would hide my bad manicure.
I’m sure I can find something good to cook up. Maybe some goat
gizzards and buffalo bootie. Nom nom y’all.
Until next time,
Music City McBride
