This week on SHLTMM, My guest Samara Price shares stories of her mom Marilyn. "Mom has a very loud sort of personality, a Brooklyn born woman who has opinions and doesn't really care what you think of them," Samara opens with. Samara's mother is a true foodie which was a huge gift to Samara and her siblings. Whether she was cooking at home or eating out, Marilyn always encouraged her kids to try all kinds of food.
Samara was born in in Baltimore, MD and lived in Jacksonville, Fla. till she was 25. At that point, Samara moved to Northwest North Carolina.
At a young age, Samara envisioned her life quite differently, especially in the kitchen. This is where the story begins....
"Marilyn didn't talk about her childhood very much because she doesn't have much that's positive to share, continues Samara. "When she was being raised, she was the product of what would be considered an illegitimate relationship. She was treated very much like the black sheep and the role that they found for her in the family was basically as something of a servant. She was always cooking and cleaning up after everybody. And over the years, she says she started making food for the family when she was seven. Over the years, she developed her kraft and honed her techniques and developed an actual love of her process."
My guest says that her mother was a rebellious teenager in the early 1940's. Marilyn's mother, Samara's grandmother, did not have a true presence in her daughter's life.
"To say that she was emotionally unavailable is pretty accurate," reflects Samara about her mom. "Why are you crying, it's not going to bring them back" is what Marilyn would say to her daughter if she was sad and crying about loosing someone."
Samara was drawn to her mom's passion of cooking. At the drop of a hat there'd be anywhere from 10 or more guests for dinner. Unfortunately, Samara would serve as the dish washer and cleaner and not an assistant to the chef.
Samara remembers distinctly her mom prepping food for the holidays. "Her Passover Seders, were the meals that stand out to this day. It was because they were never less than an elaborate affair. She'd start cooking days in advance to make the chopped liver and stick it in the fridge and make the Gefilte fish from scratch, you know, it was an ordeal, every year."
Today, the relationship is strained between mother and daughter. Marilyn was a stay at home mom and critically ill throughout Marilyn's life. Mom has been bedridden for five years. Both parents are medical professionals but as Marilyn says, "they both hold their cards very close."
Samara loves her mom. She says "my mom would give you the shirt off her back, she's was always very generous and a bit of a philanthropist." Despite their differences, Samara truly cares about her mom.
Samara's mother is very generous and giving and really a philanthropist with hopes and desires to help others succeed. Despite their differences and challenges in their relationship, Samara truly loves her mother.
Samara's current business -"Brew Naturals." It's all about Elderberries and introducing the local community and retail and online sales to the variety of snacks, honey, beer, treats, etc that she's created. Plus she loves collaborating with local businesses including breweries to a chocolatier, local creamery, etc. Hearing Samara talk about her Elderberry Apple Butter just makes my mouth water.
In Samara's words:
"I am a maker of gourmet elderberry products based in WNC. While nearly everyone familiar with elderberry comes to it by way of health and wellness, I'm endeavoring to change the conversation by highlighting its culinary applications. In this pursuit I have developed recipes using my elderberry syrup and had a number of collaborations with regional businesses from cafes/restaurants, creameries/chocolatiers, and even bars/breweries."
WEBSITE:
https://www.facebook.com/brewnaturals
https://www.instagram.com/brewnaturals