Recipes and Memories from Mama's Table

Recipes and Memories from Mama’s Table

Linda K. Farris

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© 2012 Linda K. Farris. All Rights Reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse 11/30/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-7707-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-7700-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012919709

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Acknowledgments

        My thanks to everyone who took the time to send a recipe or a story for Mama’s Table. It would not have been possible without your help. It is my hope that you will enjoy reading a bit of family history, and have some delicious meals from the recipes inside.

        To Garlin and Jeff, bless your sweet hearts for being so patient while I tried to conquer the computer and bring it all together. Maybe I will get into the kitchen more now, and we can go down to the Bay to watch the sunsets again.

Credits

Cover picture of egg beaterand quilt-Sharon Redmon, Birmingham.

Background for cover-a quilt made by my mother, Iva Hendrix Tucker.

The Family History of Law D. Hendrix, Glen Robb --2003

Patchwork Diary -- Virginia Hendrix Stover --

Other books by Aunt Virginia include--

                          Angels in the Mountains

                          Old One’s Valley in the Ozarks

                          Thresholds

                          For the Beauty of the Mountains

                          No Compromise

                          A gift for You

The books are out of print but her daughters have some copies they would like to share with anyone interested. Belva Jean Gilliland, P.O. Box 1169, Blountsville, Alabama 35031, or Bettye Wagner, 256-386-7329.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments and credits

Introduction

Mama’s Table

Chapter 1 - The Story of Law and Linnie

Chapter 2 - Happy Times at the Tucker Farm

Chapter 3 - A Day at the River

Chapter 4 - Appetizers and Party Food

Chapter 5 - Beverages

Chapter 6 - Don’s Cornbread, Bread

Chapter 7 - Breakfast

Chapter 8 - Salads

Chapter 9 - Main Dishes

Chapter 10 - Vegetables

Chapter 11 - Cakes

Chapter 12 - Desserts

Chapter 13 - Pies

Chapter 14 - Christmas Day at Mama’s Table

Chapter 15 - Cookies, Bars, and Candies

Chapter 16 - Preserved Foods

Foreword

I would like to share with you some recipes from the past, mixed with memories of the mothers and fathers who prepared our meals and made our homes. It is my desire to remind us of our roots, encourage us to put our families first, and enjoy the gifts God has given us so generously.

Most of the stories were told to us at our Hendrix family reunion. We have had 44 so far and they have been a celebration of food, fun and love each year. Others stories and recipes have been collected from friends and acquaintances who would like to have their mothers and fathers included.

Working as an independent representative for Home Interiors and Gifts for over seven years, I was privileged to visit many homes in Fayette, Jasper, Winfield, Berry, and other communities in Northwest, Alabama. The southern hospitality shown me by the hostesses made my job a pleasure, and the food they served was always delicious. I treasure the recipes collected in that time. Many are written on the back of sales receipts or small recipe cards, in the hand of the hostess who shared them. I would love to visit them all again and tell them how special my time at their table was to me.

The recipes in this book are not new, but perhaps by passing them on we can, once again, gather for good times and good food at Mama’s Table. (Linda K. Farris)

Mama(LInnie Mae)Hendrix, at her table with three of her ten children, Algia, Virginia, Valeria, and their spouses, Lottie, C.L., and Woodrow. (1958-’59)

Mama’s Table

As I climbed down from Dad’s old truck, and walked across the sandy front yard, Mama and Papa Hendrix’s two story fa{m-house seemed very large to me. It had a wide front porch across the front, with another above it, decorated with cross beams under the banisters. The cool wood floors fen -good to my bare feet and there was always a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. Often Mama Hendrix had baked a batch of her famous tea cakes as a treat for her grand,children. There was an enormous stone fireplace in the living room and I remem’t>er Papa popping corn over the fire in a wire basket, mounted on a long pole. So many memories involve food.

A fig tree stood at the East end of the house, with limbs laying on the ground. One day as I trailed along behind my brother, David, and Kenny and Curtis, two of our cousins, Mama’s big old black and white rooster ran out from his hiding place under the tree and flogged me. After I was rescued, someone ran in the house to tell the grownups of my plight. The story goes, my Dad got up and was going out the back door when Mama Hendrix called out to him, Earl, you can just kill that old rooster, if you want to. Everyone thought that was funny because, they all knew that old bird’s fate was sealed. We all enjoyed chicken and dumplings the next day.

The Hendrix family has had a reunion every year since 1969. In 1994 we started gathering at Joe Wheeler State Park, on the banks of the Tennessee River in North Alabama. Having many great cooks in our family, it was natural for the subject of writing a cookbook to come up, but somehow it just never happened. One day while thinking of my family and the wonderful times we have had, Mama’s Table came to my mind. Stories of families gathered around a table filled with good food, prepared by a loving mother who hopes her children will have happy memories of the meals they shared, and the recipes for reliving those memories.

Our grandmother and grandfather, Law D. and Lennie Mae Hendrix, raised a family of ten, 5 boys and 5 girls, through the depression and World War II. Thinking of feeding 10 children without the help of supermarkets, restaurants, and modern appliances, causes me to admire my grandmothers even more. This cookbook is written to honor both my grandmothers, my mother, aunts, and many friends we have made, living in five different states. My love and thanks to all who have shared their stories and recipes to make Mama’s Table a special place in our memory.

Linda Farris

Chapter: 1

The Story of Law and Linnie

In the rolling hills of northwest Alabama, sits the little village that holds my memories of childhood and molded the person I am today. Straddling the busiest highway in the state, it sat in the valley between two high, forest covered hills. The little post office was the place to visit each day and catch up on the news of newborn babies, coal mine cave-ins, and deaths. The post mistress with the sweet smile was my Aunt Francis, the best of good Samaritans, she was the town nurse, giving injections for the only doctor around, to the sick and suffering, day or night. Anyone who married or had a new baby was given a shower at her big, porch surrounded, white house on the hill overlooking the town.

The Frisco Railroad tracks ran right past the front of the house, with the depot and a ramp for loading coal into freight cars sitting at the end of the yard. Young daredevils loved to stand on the loading ramp while trains thundered by. Aunt Francis and Uncle Claude’s first born son, Skip, sacrificed his birthday each year to raise funds for the March of Dimes. Every child in the Eldridge school was invited to enjoy hay-rides, games, and birthday cake. Dimes were placed in a big fish bowl, sitting on the top of the post at the bottom of the stairs as the children came in the front door. It was the biggest event of the year for many of the children.

Rust colored roads wound their way out of town to farm houses surrounded by sugar cane, cotton and corn fields. One of these roads was the Bylar, the first commercial road built in the state of Alabama. Going east toward Birmingham you would turn left on the Bylar Road at the Kelly Cemetery and travel approximately one mile.There in the bend of the road sat a large two-story farm house. This farm was called the Crow Place and it was home to Law Donald and Linnie Mae Hendrix, the parents of my mother, Iva and her 9 siblings. The family moved there in 1933 after loosing their assets when the banks closed at the beginning of the depression.

The story of Mama and Papa Hendrix, begins at the end of the 19th century in Lawrence County, Tennessee. Law was born, October 21, 1890. His father Andrew Jackson Hendrix was a hard worker, a teamster, working in the lumber business. Andrew died when Papa was only twelve years old, leaving him to take care of the family. He picked up work with lumber men and at saw mills, following in his father’s footsteps. Law had a plan to be successful, and was willing to work hard to achieve his goals.

One day, when he was almost twenty years old, a tall dark haired girl, caught his attention. Linnie Mae Jolly, was just thirteen, but looked older than her years. Her grandfather had been a Cherokee Indian and she had the high cheek bones, smooth brown skin, and long dark braids of her ancestors. As Law became acquainted with Lennie, he learned that her mother had died when she was only eight years old. She had to quit school after third grade to take on the role of mother to her younger brothers and sisters. Preparing meals had required her to stand on a chair to be able to reach the stove. Hard work was all she had ever known, and the attention of a handsome young man were surely welcome.

Law and Linnie’s relationship brought his Mother and her Father together and before long it was decided that there would be two weddings. A double ceremony was planned, with the children being first to tie the knot. (If the parents were married before their children, people could say brother and sister had married.) Reputations were protected and two new families started.

As time passed hard work paid off for the young couple. Law became the owner of a sawmill and built a house for his family. Linnie gave birth to their first born son, Algia Allen, while they were living in Lynnville, Tennessee in 1912. Four years later a daughter made an abrupt appearance. Linnie had no pain and felt no contractions but suddenly gave birth to an fine, healthy, baby girl. The proud couple gave her the name Virginia. Law lovingly nursed his wife for seventeen days when she developed blood poisoning, following the birth. 1918, brought Valeria, to the family and in 1920 another daughter, Iva, was born. Life was good, in spite of the fact that Law worked long hard hours at the mill. Linnie’s days were filled with caring for four young children with another on the way. Howard was born in the broiling heat of August, 1922, and Kirg came along in March of 1924. The Hendrix family lived in a nice house, situated on their 83 acre farm. There was a large porch on all sides of the house and the children entertained themselves, playing church and having funerals for unfortunate small animals or discarded items.

Linnie, often rode her beautiful, black mare to help neighbors or care for the sick. Her long, black hair had never been cut and the sight of her tall figure riding that horse made a striking image. One day as her horse was being used to plow new ground it fell dead with a broken neck. Law dreaded telling Lennie about it and instructed the children not to say anything before he could tell her. She never had another horse.

Law’s sister, Maggie, and her baby girl, Leola, were living with the family while Jim, Maggie’s husband was far away, fighting in World War I. One early morning, baby Leola did not wake up. Jim had never seen his baby girl. A large wagon, with curtains in glass windows and drawn by two beautiful horses came to the house. Law’s children hid and watched as the strange men came in and took the baby away. This was their first experience with death but, it would not be the last.

One night in 1926 everything changed. Law’s mother was at the family home, helping out because Lennie was in bed sick. She became very sad and upset, and when Virginia asked her what was wrong she said, Something bad is going to happen. I just feel it. She went out on the porch and suddenly began to scream. Her husband and the children tried to comfort her. Seeing a light coming down the road as if someone was walking to them carrying a lantern, she continued to scream that something had happened to Wibb.

Moon shine was the largest money crop in the Tennessee hills. Smoke could be seen rising from stills in the woods around the farms most mornings. Neighbors protected neighbors with their silence, avoiding trouble with the moonshine makers. Wibb Hendrix, was a young man who loved to sing and play his