I made stew beef for dinner last night – and a mess of mushrooms to go with it.
Have you ever heard that term before? A mess? Mamaw used to say it all the time. She was always making a mess of beans or mess of fish.
If you’ve never heard it used this way, you’ve probably heard of a mess kit or a mess hall. Both of these military terms relate to food. But why?
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the phrase comes from the Old Latin “missus,” meaning a dinner course. By 1300, the French had adopted the word “mes” to describe a portion of food.
The definition hasn’t changed in 724 years. A mess still means a quantity of food large enough for a meal. It’s not a definitive amount, though. A mess of taters for a family of two will be smaller than one for a family of four.
You don’t hear the term to describe food much anymore – especially in the city. But out in the country, folks still put it to good use to describe greens.
It makes me smile. I can’t help it. It reminds me of Mamaw, standing over the stove with pots boiling and the aroma of ham hock wafting through the house.
Am I nostalgic? Yes.
And why not? Just saying I cooked up a mess of mushrooms conjures up memories of a time when meals were more than food; they were a gathering, a celebration of abundance and family. It brings to mind kitchens filled with laughter, the clatter of pots and pans, and the comforting smell of home-cooked meals.
Nothing beats a mess of southern vittles like a stew of beef, gravy, and mushrooms!
You got that right!!
Yum that meal sounds so good! And yep we use mess just like that. Neat to hear the history of the usage.
I love that! I wish it was more common where I live now.
Wow! This hits do close to home! A few years ago, I had some friends down from New Jersey in the fall and they wanted to try southern cooking. So little old me figured some good collards were in order, so I told them I would pick up a mess of greens and some streak ‘o lean. They looked at me like I had lost my mind. We also had pintos with onions, cornbread (not that sweet kind) and I introduced them to sweet iced tea which they weren’t fond of.
They didn’t like sweet tea?! That should be illegal! lol