Feeding the Family
Linda grew up in a coal mining family of seven near Russell County, Virginia, where she lives today. Her mother was a talented cook, and one dish of hers that Linda particularly loved was rich chocolate fudge that she cooked in a heavy cast-iron skillet. “She was one of those cooks who didn’t measure a whole lot, but she made some of the best chocolate fudge you ever ate,” says Linda, who’s tried to recreate that fudge countless times. Her version may not be identical to her mother’s, but it is legendary in its own right. Linda’s mother was also a religious canner, putting up at least a hundred jars of everything they grew to keep the family fed for seasons to come. After her mother died when Linda was30 years old, the cooking lessons came from Linda’s mother-in-law, who taught her to make perfect meringue and tangy sauerkraut and even more about canning foods. It wasn’t until Linda married her husband, Frank, almost 60 years ago, that she began seriously cooking. However, her beloved son, who tragically passed away eight years ago, was the one who first encouraged her to enter into a fair competition, and no one could have predicted what would come of it three decades later. Now, the mother of 3, grandmother of 6, and great-grandmother of 2 keeps everyone well fed any chance she gets.
Get a sneak peek at the deliciousness in this keepsake cookbook with her simple, weeknight-friendly Salmon Cakes and hearty Dutch oven Cowboy Beans.
