I recall as a little girl in the South Bronx in the early 60s there were a few ladies who sold dinners out of their back doors (or apartment doors, in some cases). They offered hearty “Southern fare” such as spare ribs, smothered chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, collard greens and a biscuit – you get the picture. The going rate was $5 per plate. Five dollars for a full plate of food that served two! Working people would call ahead and order for a pick up on the way home.

You had to live fairly close though before those flimsy white paper plates soaked through or fell apart. Everything was packed into a brown paper bag and off you went. I always thought how wonderful it would be to pick up a plate of home cooked food on the way home. I didn’t want to be the receiver though — I wanted to be the lady who cooked the food! AND NOW I AM.