My grandmother, Lena Bell Cunningham's Sunday dinners were legendary. On the first Sunday of every month churches all across the city would close down early in order to stand in line just to get a taste of her scrumptious cuisine. Every summer my grandmother and I would carve out a patch of my family's already miniature inner city backyard and plant a vegetable garden. I looked forward to those summers because it was a chance for me to spend quality time with her. It was also an opportunity for her to show me how to plant, harvest, and cook fresh vegetables; with an attention to detail, an appreciation for nature, and a love of the craft. I miss my grandmother. I still get teary-eyed when I think of her passing and I smile at remembering the pure joy in her eyes when she fed other people. This book, and those that will follow, honor her memory, and in some small way keep her traditions alive. I know you will love these recipes as much as I have over the years. She taught them to me, and now I'm teaching them to you. Enjoy