If you are interested in authentic Southern recipes covering over two hundred years (and seven generations) of a family's heritage, you will read this book with delight. Old recipes are often difficult to follow, and it is not the recommendation of the editors that readers attempt every recipe included in this collection. The value of many of the recipes lies in their historical significance-both in methods and ingredients-and not in taste and results. Memories of food, and the cooks who prepared it are a great part of our lives. Returning to our roots, even in armchair reading, is an enriching experience; perhaps we can better understand the spirit and skill of our predecessors as we browse these pages.