Q: What are some vegetables that are used in Absentee Shawnee Tribe’s cooking?
A: We eat a lot of beans for protein and corn, like corn soup with pork so those are the two things that I know. We eat a lot of potato’s which I know are not really native to here but we do eat a lot of potatoes so that will be probably the main things. I myself like sweet potatoes. I try to eat those year round because I know they’re better and healthier than a lot of the other types of potatoes. So in the fall, there’s a sweet potato and pork soup that I like to make. With either white or yellow hominy.
One thing I do remember is my Aunt, she made grape dumplings. That is kind of a special thing that I remember her making.
Q: How do you incorporate squash?
A: We do eat a lot of squash, in my home, my household eats a lot of squash and cabbage. I like to put it in an electric skillet and do sweet onions, bell peppers, squash, zucchini, soup or fresh tomatoes if I have them, I’ll put them in there and then put the cabbage on top and that’s a good meal. Not necessarily any meat added to it but a really good healthy meal. I cook that a lot for me and my mom.