Chili or Chilies, Darling?

The following is a short story I wrote for Eat, Darling, Eat — an international publication which explores relationships between mothers and daughters regarding food. This piece is dedicated to my loving mother, Jutamas Fessel. Thank you for allowing me to publish your likeness — and your Panang Recipe!

“My sister was such a baby.” My mom describes her childhood as she plucks the eye from a baked catfish at our…