As someone who has an affinity for baked goods in general and has been coined the ‘Cheesecake Queen’ of my family, I found the concept of prison cheesecake to be an ironic metaphor throughout the book. Food brought women of all cultures and backgrounds together during their stay in prison. For Piper, these women became her family while inside. One of the most important connections Piper made while in prison was Pop, who happened to be the prison cook. This may be relatable for many of you since the focal point of many family gatherings is the meal. We as a culture regularly share our hopes, dreams, aspirations, and life struggles over food. We as humans work to create connections with others and when we are in a vulnerable place in our lives is when we rely the most on those connections developed. Why would this be any different inside prison?
For the prison cheesecake recipe, check out page 150. I have not tried this recipe yet, but hope to for my next large family gathering. Bon appetite!
Guest post by Karen Magness-Pokornowski, Learning Communities Specialist