One of my favorite childhood memories is spending the weekend with my grandma, Lillie Mae Martin. She prioritized her love for Jesus, her church, and her family and never hesitated to show it. Lillie Mae affectionately referred to all women as "Sister," regardless of who they were or how long she had known them. If I close my eyes and get quiet, I can still recall the sounds and smells of her house, how safe I felt there, and the sense of togetherness as women made chow-chow or canned vegetables. Most of all, I remember that she loved me unconditionally. How does this relate to my food business? Her home was our haven, where my sisters and I could freely explore indoors and outdoors. Nothing was off-limits unless it was unsafe. We made paper dolls, curled our hair with cut-up newspapers, and found treasures in every nook and cranny of Lillie Mae's world. She gave us the freedom to be as creative as we wanted. As children, we made concoctions outside in the mud, and once we were tall enough to stand on a chair and reach the counter, we began experimenting inside her kitchen. We felt empowered to try anything; if we failed, it was okay. Since then, I have learned from many great Southern cooks, many of them within my own family. From them, I have gained a great deal of knowledge about southern cooking. In my experience, love, laughter, and community thrive in Southern kitchens. I aim to convey this to my community by interpreting what I have learned. Honoring the spirit of adventure and confidence that originated in Lillie Mae's kitchen, I have made these recipes my own. To pay tribute to my grandmother, I named my business "Sister Lillie Mae's Homemade." ~ Anita Powell