“I am the keeper of the stories, the writer, the one who has carried the stories in my apron for so many years, the one who considers a rusty metal recipe box my finest family heirloom. I am the one who makes a pot of chicken and dumplings and cornbread, who conjures up the kitchen ghosts of my rural homeland every time I cook.”

I heard about this book on a reading podcast I listen to and was intrigued. The draw for me involved the elements of traditions passed down and generational honor. Both were present in this work. I was disappointed since very few of the recipes sounded good to me or possible in my life right now. But I respected the author’s heart and goal. The deep honor she has for her ancestors and love for her children come through in her writing, stories, and love of cooking.