In these excerpts, which cultural theme do both authors explore? wangero, though, went on through the chitlins and corn bread, the greens and everything else. she talked a blue streak over the sweet potatoes. everything delighted her. (alice walker, "everyday use") my mother, in a cheerful mood that evening, decided to cook a big pot of khichuri . ., and for a change your mother insisted on , standing in the kitchen deep-frying pieces of potato and cauliflower. (jhumpa lahiri, "once in a lifetime")

Both authors are speaking about the natural bond women have between them when they are dealing with feeding their families. Their's is the very center of how families divide the chores. 

Because that is so, Alice Walker is able to tell us that the preparation of the food "delighted" the woman doing the preparation. She has given us an amazing incite into the way women think and act when they are happy.

The second, we are not give a phrase to latch onto, other than the mother is in a cheerful mood. We're not sure why, but we can guess that it was because she had help in the kitchen which she was not expecting. She likely did not need the help, but she found the companionship very agreeable.

Both samples seem to convey the same reason for happiness.