Foreword
Faith Ford

Growing up as sisters from a long line of seasoned Southern cooks, Devon and I were taught by the best! In fact, Devon was very instrumental in encouraging me, her skinny little sister, Faith, to take the first bite of all the family favorites: chicken and dumplings, crispy brown biscuits with cane syrup, pan-fried okra, butter beans, and fresh-sliced summer tomatoes, to name a few.

My sister was my idol. Whatever she did, I tried my best to follow along. She did everything with such grace and ease. I guess you’d say I had big shoes to fill. She was the first to read, the first to play an instrument, the first to get straight A’s. And, of course, the first to cook. She would make the best oven-baked cheese toast and Cheddar-stuffed broiled hot dogs with quick skillet pork and beans of any Southern sister I knew. And these were just after-school snacks. At suppertime, she would always let me have the crispy skin off her fried chicken. The golden brown edges from the fried pork chops were my favorite. She even figured out that she could take a piece of white bread, spoon my favorite purple hull peas inside, and slip it to me across the table as if it were my own special delicacy. It was all about how quickly and efficiently she prepared and presented it.

My sister has always had a knack for throwing things together on the fly, yet seeming as if she’d worked on them for hours. It’s enough to make a little sister slightly intimidated, but not me. Not around Devon. She wouldn’t have that. She insisted on sharing all her tips and skills, just like our mom taught her. What’s good for the hen is good for the chicks!

Devon loved going to restaurants and then coming home to whip up a quick version for us. And it was always tasty and satisfying. She always made enough for a crew too. That’s another thing she got from our mom—always make enough. If it doesn’t get eaten, you’ll have plenty of leftovers. Turkey chili for ten, or more. Pasta as a side dish only. Cornbread for a crew. Brisket for a bevy. And casseroles that can feed a church.

Yep! That’s right! My sister is a pack leader when it comes to preparing delicious, simple Southern meals. And she knows how to do it on a budget. Devon is a force in the kitchen and, just like me, she’s dedicated to preserving those precious recipes of our childhood years. Trust me, after you’ve tried them, you’ll want to pass them on too.