One sunny summer day, Maria and her daughter Sofia decided to take a leisurely stroll through the fields near their small town. While wandering around, they came across a small tree that immediately caught Maria’s eye. Curious, she took a closer look and was surprised to see that it was covered with tiny white fruits that she did not recognize.
At first Maria thought the fruits were bird eggs or something similar. But upon closer inspection she realized that they were actually white eggplants. Sofia was fascinated by the unusual sight and begged her mother to select some and try to cook with them.
Although Maria was hesitant to use the white eggplants as she wasn’t sure how to prepare them, Sofia’s enthusiasm convinced her to give it a try. She picked a few and brought them home.
Upon her return, Maria devoted herself to cooking and searched online for the best way to use the eggplants. She settled on a classic Italian dish: eggplant parmesan, a recipe she had always loved.
Maria sliced the eggplant thinly and fried it until golden brown, then covered it in rich tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese before baking the dish to perfection. When it was ready, she and Sofia enjoyed the meal together.
To Maria’s delight, the eggplant parmesan turned out to be exceptionally delicious. The eggplants were tender and flavorful and paired perfectly with the spicy tomato sauce and gooey cheese.
From then on, Maria made it a summer tradition to visit the field and check on the white eggplant tree. Every year the tree was there, producing its unique fruit. Maria would gather a few eggplants and use them to make her beloved eggplant parmesan, a dish that had become a family favorite.
The discovery of the white eggplant tree not only led Maria and Sofia to a new culinary adventure, but also reminded them that amazing finds can sometimes come from the most unexpected places.
Pregnant Mom Defends Search for Baby’s Name in Cemetery After Video Goes Viral: Not a ‘Place of Evil’
Thanks to Haley Hodge
Good things are frequently discovered where you least expect them to be.
Haley Hodge has gone beyond books and online in her quest for baby names as her due date approaches. This mother of three, who will soon become a mother of four, made the decision to search local cemeteries for names from earlier generations and former lives in order to find inspiration.
Hodge documented this extraordinary journey in a now-viral TikTok video that has elicited conflicting responses from its 2.5 million viewers. In the video, Hodge can be seen talking about names with her husband Rivers and their kids while touring the Old Smithville Burying Ground in Southport, North Carolina.
Thanks to Haley Hodge
Many viewers were moved by Hodge’s inventiveness and appreciated how she honored the memory of the deceased with her choice of names.
One individual remarked, “This is the first video I’ve ever seen like this; never would have thought about it.” But I adore this concept so much! particularly if you investigate the individual.
“This really is stunning. Another TikTok user said, “What a way to honor those that have passed away.”
Not everyone, though, had the same sentiments. The concept unnerved other viewers, who brought up beliefs about pregnant women not being allowed in cemeteries. Hodge tells PEOPLE that although she had always felt at ease in cemeteries, she had expected some criticism because of different cultural perspectives on death.
Thanks to Haley Hodge
“It seems to me like going to a site where people’s greatest friends, grandparents, and other loved ones are buried. It’s not an evil place, according to Hodge. “These are people who were good people who lived lives, hopefully good lives.”
Furthermore, Hodge finds it inconvenient to be close to the deceased.
She continues, “I don’t think spirits are restricted to cemeteries if they exist.” “We’re already surrounded by it; hospitals have morgues, and we have babies born above morgues.”
Hodge also remembers her own early years, when her mother would take the family on trips and visit graves to teach them about the local history.
Thanks to Haley Hodge
According to Hodge, “she realized we’d be more interested if it was a spooky story rather than just history.” “It just grabs your attention more, kind of like kids telling scary stories at a bonfire.”
Hodge had used more traditional means to find names for her first three children, Finley, 10, Banks, 1, and Crew, 3, frequently making notes of names she heard on television. When asked where her name came from, she wanted this fourth kid to be able to tell an intriguing backstory.
Thanks to Haley Hodge
In addition, Hodge made the decision to film their trip to the grave, hoping to show it to her daughter in the future. She had originally intended to keep the videos to herself, but she ultimately decided to share the naming process with everyone.
“At first, I wasn’t going to post them,” she acknowledges. However, I later decided that sharing this was sort of cool. I anticipated that because it was unique, it would draw attention.
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