Sunday dinners in the south were a tradition in my home growing up. Sunday was about God and family. Sunday was my favorite day of the week. The family would gather for a meal after church and spend the afternoon together. Some meals were elaborate and some were very simple. It was not only about the food but about enjoying each other. Times were much simpler then and I recall fondly all the memories. Enjoy this journey with me as we travel along memory lane to remember Sundays in the South.
The food was delicious and plenty. I lived in a rural farm community and neighbors would always drop by on Sunday afternoon. My mother was the best southern cook I have ever known. She enjoyed watching family and friends eat the food she made. I always said God put my mother on this earth to bring joy to people. Whether it was her calm and gentle demeanor or the plates of food she served, she did it with joy. You could not help but be happy around my mother. If you were having a bad day, she always knew the right thing to say and the right food to cheer you up. She brought great joy to everyone she met.
Mother would do most of the cooking on Saturday so she could spend time with family and friends on Sunday. There were almost always at least 1 cake and pie or cobbler for every dinner. She also made cookies, homemade ice cream and various other desserts. I come from a large family and we might have 40 people at Sunday dinner. If you missed Sunday dinner, you better have a great reason. She expected everyone to attend Sunday dinner.
When we became adults and moved out, we would drop by on Saturday's to help her prepare for Sunday dinner. Sunday dinners started out at my grandparent's house but as they got older, my mother took over the tradition. As my mother got older, we all pitched in to continue the tradition. Times have changed. My mother passed and most of the family has moved away. I still prepare Sunday dinner even though it may only be a few of us now. I still have all the fond memories of growing up with Sunday dinners in the south.