My mom put together this book of recipes as a family Christmas present in 1990. It is a collection of holiday recipes from my great-grandma, Floy Pittman Stewart. Although I never met Floy, she represents a long legacy of strong, independent women in our family. I grew up hearing countless stories about her life in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She was a teacher, she raised two daughters as a single mother, and she rented out every square inch of their house to make ends meet. She was tough and resourceful, but also welcoming. She had a classic Mississippi farmhouse kitchen where her friends, family, and grandchildren (my mom included) shared meals and community. Most importantly, any visitor of Floy's kitchen would likely be greeted with a freshly baked cream cheese poundcake. Although this book includes many recipes that I grew up eating at Thanksgiving and Christmas, this poundcake recipe is the most important one. My family is now scattered across the Southeast, but any time we come together we always make a poundcake. As we eat, we sip coffee and swap stories about Floy and the women who came after her. When I'm not with my family, I bake this recipe when I need comfort, or when I want to welcome someone (I will often bring it to a party, or to a new neighbor or friend). When I bake a poundcake, I feel connected to Floy - but also to my grandmother, my mom, my aunts, and my cousins. And when I bring a poundcake to a friend, I am reminded that sharing a meal can be sharing love and community, too. 

– Caroline Bowers

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more