family lost, to battle or time, constantly bubbling and risking boiling over if his calloused heart developed even a miniscule crack. I uncovered the soup, calling for my father and step-brothers to come give it a taste. Luckily, it was a smash hit. The stew was a savory blend of spicy, greasy, fatty flavors which came together in a different way every forkful. My father, usually intolerant of spices, came to enjoy this oddity that I’d graced our kitchen with. Logan ravenously devoured two bowls before retreating once again to his basement den. Jonathan, who planned to join the Army after his graduation, chose to fill one large bowl rather than come back for a second. I went back to the original video which inspired me to cook the stew. “$2.18 per serving, 6 large servings,” he claimed. I’d spent forty dollars to feed four people. If the economy really did collapse, we would have to find another go-to struggle meal. Despite the price, dinner was an overwhelming success, but still a bittersweet one. Korean Army Stew was born of strife in a nation littered with the bodies of Koreans and Americans alike. Their sacrifices, just or unjust, brought our family together that night. For that, I am grateful.
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Upper Mississippi Harvest