Ozarks Alive

Downtown Springfield can feel a world away from the Ozarks at ASA Al-FURAT, an Iraqi coffee shop on Route 66 that focuses on coffee, tea and pastries.

I had the pleasure this morning of visiting with Imtihan Alaid, its owner, about the shop and her story. I'll share more in an article soon, so stay tuned, but I just wanted to give an early peek at this unique opportunity to experience another culture.

Imtihan is from Iraq but spent years in Turkey as a refugee before coming to the United States. In her shop, she shares traditional flavors and delicacies (including an emphasis on the spice cardamon and drinks like date coffee) with us. The tea and coffee I tried were delicious!

Thanks to I Love Springfield, MO! for sponsoring the creation of this story. More to come soon!

These are the faces of someone smiling because you’re supposed to in photos, and the same person’s real feelings as they prepare to eat a pie…topped with sour cream.

Also known as Ozarks Pie Project entry #139: Sour Cream Raisin Pie.

OK, don’t get me wrong. I love sour cream. It’s a great ingredient. But it wasn’t until today that it has ever topped one of my pies.

I know that there are strong feelings about raisin pies. Some have meringue. Others have nuts. Some are raisins cooked incredibly sweet. And then there’s this one, which I knew I had to make when I found it in a Vanzant, Missouri, vintage cookbook. It was sour cream cooked with eggs, sugar, raisins, corn starch and lemon juice. After you cook that thick, you spread it in a baked pie shell and top that with even more sour cream.

And, of course, I had to try it, too.

I’m happy to say it’s actually pretty good. Others liked it, too. I did decide to soften the pure sour cream with some cinnamon sugar, which may have been a greater benefit to my attitude than anything else. In any event, it didn’t hurt.

I’m sorry to say that I ran off to the McClurg Jam without taking a picture of the recipe, but if you’re interested, please check back later — I’ll add it in the comments. In the meantime: Have you tried a raisin pie like this before?

Just a reminder: Today's the deadline! Nominations for the Rock Picking Awards are accepted until midnight. Please submit people and organizations who are making a difference for the culture of our region. A link to make nominations is in the comments.

A brand-new opportunity to experience Arkansas culture is coming up later the month at the Arkansas Folklife Festival. The festival — which runs from June 26 to 28 in North Little Rock — showcases traditions including music, dance, food and more. Headliners include Bobby Rush and Lucinda Williams, musicians who each have won three Grammy Awards.

And, a key note: All sessions in this celebration are free to attend.

“(It’s a) cool opportunity to have three days where all the different cultural regions are in one place,” says Rachel Reynolds, the festival’s organizer, native Arkansan and folklorist. “You can experience it, and then be like, ‘Oh, well, I'm super interested in that,’ and come back and dig deeper in that thing that lights your fire.”

Learn more about the festival's background and what's ahead via a link in the comments.

The Ozarks Alive Cooperative's roadtrip down Route 66 was a great success!

We stopped today at three landmarks along the route west of Springfield: Yeakley United Methodist Church, said to be the oldest operating church along Route 66 in Greene County; Spencer Station - Route 66, a ghost town that's coming back to life; and Phelps School, a one-room rural school that was recently restored.

I want to thank our hosts at these sites for allowing us to stop and learn about these landmarks. I also want to express my appreciation for Ozarks Alive Cooperative members — both those who attended today, and those who couldn't.

Cooperative members help support Ozarks Alive. For just five dollars a month, they receive a special email newsletter and free access to field trips like this one. However, in my mind, it's about more than what they "get." It's about supporting the overall mission of Ozarks Alive.

If you enjoy this content and want to help support it, a link to become a member is in the comments. You can join (and cancel) at any time.