Southern Hospitality

I remember how my mamma had a way of having enough food for last minute visitors. Once, I remember, company came just at meal time. She had cooked only enough for the ones there. She usually made an extra dish, perhaps a platter of fried eggs. But this time she had fixed pork chops.

So, she turned her back to the company, took each pork chop by hand and simply pinched them in two. Then she turned around and announced, "Come on, there's plenty of pieces of meat." Those who knew had a good laugh with her afterwards.

I have seen her start a fire up again in the wood-burning stove when a late visitor came in. She would make a quick dish of eggs or gravy, whatever she could add for a quick addition. She would always say, "It will only take a minute, so sit and eat."