Sister Clara’s favorite was the smooth grind. She introduced me to the food processor of its time—the Foley Food Mill. I still have that hand-held machine that gave me the pleasure to know I could follow Sister Clara’s recipe with perfection. Pleasure and pride and my purpose was to feel good about healthy eating and inclusion of whole grains, proteins and food values in terms of vitamins, minerals thru the use of lentils, fresh vegetables and preparing it with patience and love to make that taste worth its weight in grains and gratitude. Croutons and extra sharp cheddar cheese cubes and Tabasco hot sauce are the memorable ingredients from Sister Clara’s times. Sister Clara served her soup with home made whole wheat bread—sliced and slow oven-toasted accompaniment with a smile—her smile was meaningful to convey—the message of good eating for health and human reasons to share with love, generosity and gratitude. To this date I make about twice a year a very large amount to share with my family and have it in the freezer ready for serving ourselves or to visiting family and friends! Thank you Sister Clara—some day I hope to write the Bean Soup Legacy and a poem in sharing the memories and moments of learning lessons in life, love and sharing any and everything!
Since her retirement, Dr. Shakeela Hassan has worked to foster greater understanding among Jews, Christians, and Muslims—seeing this work both as an extension of her healing work as a physician and as honoring the hospitality shown to her as a young immigrant woman by Elijah Muhammad and Sister Clara and to honor the grassroots movement of its kind in achieving social justice and civic responsibility.
Page 3 of 3 | Previous page