The Pass It On Plate

Here in the south, and I imagine it’s the same in other parts of the world, we have a deep-seated connection to food. Whether it be meals served at home, packed in a basket to create a picnic, or cakes and cookies made for a bake sale, we love our food. 

And many of our traditions revolve around food. But there is one tradition that just makes it even more fun, and that is the tradition of a Pass It On Plate. Listen in to learn what a Pass It On Plate is, and how it is used not only food as a gift, but also as a connection of hearts, homes, and communities.

Links to Find your Pass It On Plate

Pass it On Plate – Etsy

Giving Plate – Etsy

Blessing Plate – Amazon

Transcript

Here in the south, and I imagine it’s the same in other parts of the world, we have a deep-seated connection to food. Whether it be meals served at home, packed in a basket to create a picnic, or cakes and cookies made for a bake sale, we love our food. 

And many of our traditions revolve around food. For some of us, turkey is the main dish at Thanksgiving. If you live in the southern parts of Louisiana – then you would be eating duck or gumbo, instead. Birthdays get a special request meal of your favorite foods, and a birthday cake. And it wouldn’t be the Fourth of July if there wasn’t barbecue on the picnic table. 

There is another food tradition we adhere to, and that is taking food to those who have lost a loved one, preparing a meal for someone who has been sick, or even helping to feed a family who is in need. For the most part, we use a piece of tape or an indelible pen to write our name on the bottom of the dish. This makes it easier to get the dish back. 

On occasion, we also take food to our friends and neighbors ‘just because’. We may be trying out a new cookie recipe and want someone else to try them out. Our friend may be faced with a visit from her mother-in-law and needs a dose of ‘comfort food’ – so we bake a cake she can serve. And sometimes, we just love to bake and share the goodness with others.

There is another tradition, which is veiled in the cloak of good manners. With the exception of ‘funeral food’, you should never, ever, return a plate or dish empty. Instead, you should bring the dish back filled with a thank you note and a simple treat in return. This could be cookies you baked, a jar of jam you put up over the summer, or, if you just don’t cook, maybe a small bouquet of flowers.

 But there is yet another tradition that blows that one right out of the dishwater. It’s called the Pass it On Plate. This is a plate that comes to you filled with goodies, with no intention of being returned. Instead, it is passed on to the next person in need of food. 

Having a Pass it On Plate makes life easier. First, we don’t have to worry about returning the dish, and second, we don’t have to figure out where to find the time to bake a batch of cookies to add to the dish in order to return it. Instead, once the plate is washed, we just pull our indelible pen out of the drawer, add our name on the bottom of it, then store it away until we need it. 

Does a Pass it On Plate sound like a good tradition to you? Maybe you’re thinking about getting one and starting your own tradition. If so, let’s look at it a little deeper. 

In the literal sense, the Pass it On Plate is just a plate that can be used to take food to someone. Before the first person uses it, they write their name on the bottom of the plate. Then the person receiving it does the same. 

But in essence, the Pass it On Plate is so much more than just a dish. It is a conduit for kindness. It helps to connect us to one another, brings people together, and in the process expresses the generosity of a community. It helps us to hold tightly to the traditions throughout the generations. 

It also highlights the philosophy behind why we choose to live a simple life in the first place. Our goal is to slow down so we can place our focus on the priorities we have in life – our family, community, and embracing the simple joys in life. It reflects our desires to take care of each other, even if it’s just using a few cookies, a casserole or a pie to tell someone we care. 

Sharing food is one of the many ways we can show love and caring. There is really nothing literal we can do when a person loses a loved one. Most of us can’t literally heal a person who is sick. But what we can do is bake a cake or cook a meal. Food may not fix the problem, but it is a universal language that translates to ‘comfort, compassion, and connection.’

And personalizing the Pass it On Plate by adding your name to the bottom, just makes it that much more special to those who are receiving it. With each name that is added, there is another step taken in the journey of the plate. These names are the invisible thread that connects each of us to one another. When you receive the plate, your heart is linked to the others who have used the plate. When you give the plate to the next person, you are also telling them they are part of something larger than just a plate of food. 

Even better. With each giving and receiving of the plate, you are able to track its journey. When you read the names, you have the ability to imagine the stories the plate could tell. Who has had it? Where has it been? How has it served people and families in need? Each name represents a chapter in the plate’s story. And if the plate has been in circulation long enough, you may even invoke memories of cherished people who have long since passed through this world – but have left their legacy of love, kindness, compassion, and hope for the future. 

Using a Pass it On Plate has another benefit as well. This simple piece of glass, stoneware, or plastic has the ability to cause a ripple effect. Just the smallest act of kindness, such as delivering the plate filled with cookies, can begin to spread goodness and kindness throughout your community. It becomes a symbol of thoughtfulness and encourages those who receive it to pass on more than just food. By taking it to the next person in need, you begin to spread love from one home to another. 

If you love the idea of starting the tradition of the Pass it On Plate, then let’s take the next step. Finding the perfect plate. And before you get worried, remember that, in this case, ‘perfection’ is in the eye of the beholder. 

Your Pass it On Plate doesn’t have to be fancy or mean giving up a piece of great-grandma’s China. It can be as simple or as elegant as you prefer. However, I would lean towards the simple, durable side. Whether we like it or not, plates do get dropped and broken. 

You also want something that is reasonably large, such as a dinner plate. You don’t want a small saucer size, as there won’t be room for too many names. Yet, you don’t want it to be a platter large enough to fit a turkey that will feed fifty, either. The plate would then become too heavy to handle and too bulky to store.  For most Pass it On Plates, I would say somewhere in the 10” to 14” size. 

You can purchase a plate that’s ready to use and signifies what it’s to be used for. If you search on Amazon or Etsy, they can be called a Pass it On Plate, a Giving Plate, or even a Blessing Plate. I’ve shared links in the show notes to help you get started, if you just prefer to purchase one. If you are of the creative sort, you can also order templates on Etsy as well. However, you can also find a plate you love at most any housewares store or thrift shop and use that. If you go this route, it may help to add a note that will go with the plate to explain the process of a Pass it On plate. That way, anyone who receives it will know that it is to be passed on to others, rather than returned to you. And be sure to let each recipient know to write their name on the bottom before passing it on.

If you choose, you can also do a bit of lagniappe with the plate. When you serve something on the plate, include a copy of the recipe, a note of encouragement, a tea bag, or even a Bible verse. These little extras can be kept by the recipient, and they in turn can offer a personal note for the person who is next in line to receive the plate. 

Even the smallest act of kindness can help to offer encouragement and support. It may be a tiny gesture, but it can have a huge impact on others. We may often think that baking a batch of cookies isn’t much, but when shared with others it speaks of a heart filled with generosity. And it embodies the very essence of living a simple life. 

And serving it up on a Pass it On Plate just takes it the extra mile. And who knows? At some point in time, the plate may just end up back in your home. And at that time, you can sit back with a cup of coffee, enjoy the bounty that sits on the plate, and feel the love that has been handed down with each signature on the bottom of the plate. 

Do you have a Pass it On Plate already? Be sure to share your stories with me by emailing them to thevirtualporch@gmail.com. If you don’t have a plate and want to get one started, just email me and let me know how I can help. I’ll even be willing to share a recipe or two with you! 

If you want to learn more about living a Simple Life, just visit my website at www.thefarmwife.com/ . If you’re enjoying listening to these podcasts, please consider supporting the show by clicking the SUPPORT button in the show notes. When you do, you’ll be helping me continue bringing you fun and helpful ideas for living the Simple Life you love!

If you have questions or just want to stop in for a visit, you can do that through email at thevirtualporch@gmail.com. And be sure to subscribe – you don’t want to miss a single conversation. I'll be sitting on the porch every Monday morning waiting for your visit!

Thanks again for stopping in. I will see you next week on Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. And while you are waiting for the next episode, grab that glass of refreshment, pull up a rocker, and sit back for a while. It’s time to relax and enjoy.

Links for your Pass It On Plate:

Pass it On Plate – Etsy

Giving Plate – Etsy

Blessing Plate – Amazon