The books arrived in time for me to send them out and my siblings really enjoy them.

Comments range from "We used to eat that and I forgot all about it!" to "So that's how Mom made stack cake!"

My wife, born and raised in Lawrence County, read through it and enjoyed the history as well as the photos. I had forgotten all about tomato gravy so it was fun to find it there. As an aside, my Mom made corn meal gravy and onion gravy from time to time.

The book fits in well at our house as we were already trying to move back some to our dietary roots. A few months back Brenda remembered that Mom used to fix 'kilt lettuce' and fixed us some. It was delicious. Brenda also cooks great and has had recipes published in 2 cookbooks. Our family and friends enjoy 2 of her specialties immensely. 1. Turtle cake and 2. Cheese Ball. (This is soooo good with pineapple and green onions, etc.

There were so many of us that Mom had to make food money go pretty far. I mention it because she could feed a lot of people on very little. For instance... One quick meal that she made was to get some cream of chicken soup, some wide pasta noodles, and if she had some she would add some left over chicken meat. It is quick and tastes great when served with cornbread and peas.

She also made something I believe she called Hungarian Goulash but I don't know exactly why she called it that. It was basically some rice, onions, finely chopped ground beef or crumbled bacon, and peas. She served it with soy sauce and made it by the pot full. It was a huge favorite. She was great with Pineapple upside down cakes and cakes with sea foam icing. One last thing and I'll quit reminiscing. She used to cook greens and put whole boiled eggs in with them somehow. Come to think of it, she would put whole boiled eggs in her chicken and dumplings too.

Now I am starving and it is only 8:30 in the morning!

What are the chances of my being able to purchase some more autographed books for other family members who saw the ones I sent their parents and called to ask me "Where's mine, Uncle Ricky?"

- Rick