Help me with an "ethnicity" question.

[Jaimee]

I need help!!! Ok, my DS is 4 yrs old. This week they are celebrating cultures in his daycare class, and they are having a potluck lunch tomorrow. We are supposed to bring in a dish that represents his ethnicity. My DS is biracial (dad is African American, I'm white). Waaay back in my family I'm a combination of German, Swedish,Swiss, Norweigen...I don't know what else. I don't know what to bring Sadly my family has never really celebrated our culture, my grandparents aren't alive for me to ask their opinions. His class is primarily African American and different Hispanic cultures, so far every one has signed up except us...with foods ranging from soul food, to fried plantains.

I feel awful that I can't come up with anything...I just don't know what would "represent" DS's culture. He has never had any contact with his father and my family history is so "americanized" now that I'm not sure what to do...can anyone help??


BTW...this has to be something a bunch of 4 year olds would eat

 

[browneyes]

Swiss

Something chocolate?

 

[Leota]

How about Apple Pie? What could be more American than that?
I would celebrate the fact that your son represents what most Americans are...a blend of cultures that is America.....
Our country is such a melting pot.....I mean that in a very good way!

 

[Saffron]

Leota!!!! GMTA!!! I was thinking apple pie and hot dogs because he is what a lot of Americans are, a blend of ethnicities and cultures!!

 

[Cindy B]

I posted mac n cheese hot dogs,a pple pie but the post got lost somewhere....

 

[jx3smom]

Why not check out different recipe sites on line for German, Swiss, etc. cuisine. I know I love the rice kreme from Norway at EPCOT. Or just go with good old fashioned American cuisine such as Macaroni and cheese.

 

[Goofyposter]

Groosch! I agree....go with the American concept...in fact...take your dish in a crock pot.....call it the American Melting Pot!

How 'bout this?
1 pound frankfurters, sliced into rounds
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups uncooked egg noodles
1 can tomato or cream of mushroom soup
2 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley


Put all ingredients except cheese and parsley in the Crock-Pot; stir. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. Before serving, stir in cheese. Serve with parsley sprinkled on top.

Yer could also use turkey hot dogs, which are already cooked..and cut the crockpot time in half!

 

[Saffron]

Great idea GP!!! I like that, The Melting Pot!! You could make sweet spiced apple slices in a big pot if you don't have a crock pot!!

 

[mamajoan]

Hi, I am in the same situation as you.. except my background is strongly Irish and German.. ( Oh ya, my marriage went over REALLY Big with that side of the family ) Anyway, all of my kids have had to do this project thru their school years.
"Greens" and Cornbread always do well. My daughter brought a type of sweet potato/yam vegetable stew that recipe came from an African Cuisine website. To be honest it was kind of icky. but the teacher really liked it.

I have something funny to tell you... when 1st ds was in third grade(we were stationed in Hawaii) he had to do a book about himself (all done at school) well when it came to ethnicity Mike drew a lovely family picture then wrote, 'I AM TAN'
Teacher was completely freaked out, so we had a talk with Mike, he told us this was the easiest way to describe his family history!

 

[danacara]

If you want to do a variation on fried plantains - cut up little banana rounds and dip them in chocolate. It's not particularly ethnic, but 4 year olds LOVE them.

 

[bizybea]

I just have to say that I love Goofyposter's idea! How unique! (And it sounds yummy, too!) Good luck and let us know what you decided and how it turned out.

 

[Jaimee]

Thanks for the ideas guys...I'll let you know what I decide. I like the melting pot idea!

Mamajoan...the "tan" story is cute!! Isaiah refers to himself as being "cocoa" .