I was inspired by my Mother, Nola Elliott, to write this cookbook. My Mom was a strong woman. I admired the way she took care of the family no matter what obstacles she faced. I would often watch my Mom cooking in the kitchen to see how she prepared meals for the family. I wanted to cook just like her so I would always hang out in the kitchen observing and helping her. I wanted to learn how to cook some of the foods we grew up on like chicken-n-dumplings, cornbread dressing and tea cakes. These types of food stretched and went a long way to feed a big family. My Mom knew how to make a meal out of nothing. She made kneading biscuits in her hand look so simple. Cooking was like second nature to my Mom, a trait that I later perfected. With lots of practice and determination, I finally became the great cook that my Mother had become. Hence the book name, Momma and Me Recipes.