In line with NPR, Mormon funeral potatoes have been possible born of utility. There is a concept that the dish was served in occasions of yore to maintain of us who have been close to dying (by way of Food & Wine). However, foodies did not need to be approaching the Nice Divide with the intention to take pleasure in funeral potatoes: Assembling the dish was typically an act of generosity. Jacqueline Thursby, a retired folklore professor at Brigham Younger College, says Mormon funeral potatoes rose as much as fulfill the logistical calls for of rising congregations and households.
Mormon housewives have been tasked with feeding plenty of of us – on a regular basis – which meant inventing dishes that have been fast to make, reasonably priced, and filling. The ladies-operated Mormon Reduction Society additionally ministered to poor and unwell populations, says Thursby, which meant catering plenty of weddings, births, and funerals. The Mormon Church web site maintains this model of funeral potatoes’ creation; the dish obtained its title, says the outlet, as a result of it was generally introduced by Mormon Reduction Societies to assist households at numerous funerals. Mormon funeral potatoes (weirdly) take the phrase “consolation meals” to a wholly totally different stage.