MAVIS' KITCHEN: A Southern Cooking Lifestyle

Mavis Powell developed a "Cooking With Mavis" lifestyle as a young bride during World War II. But the seed of that lifestyle was planted growing up as a child in The Great Depression. Her mother Pearlie always had large pots of soups and stews bubbling on the stove that were shared with hungry travelers. Their home became a "marked house" as the Hobos, what they were called at that time, used symbols to let fellow weary travelers know if houses along the way would share food or a place to rest. Here is where Mavis' love of cooking and passion to serve others took root. This depression-era mentality - never let food go to waste - became the foundation for Mavis' Southern Kitchen Lifestyle. Weekly menus began with ingredients already in the fridge, freezer, or shelf. Sunday noontime dinner was usually the biggest meal of the week and as the week progressed, mere leftovers morphed into fabulous Southern creations!Mavis and her husband Joe's life together was very social which led to her to her next greatest joy: The Art of the Party! Through passion, grace and sheer grit she grew into the ultimate Southern Hostess.