The Home Front
Everyone needs friends as we travel life’s road. We need friends to connect with, to share with, and to look to during the blessings, trials, and tribulations of life. We need someone to celebrate the good news and someone to comfort us as we mourn the bad. And even when good things are happening, we sometimes need friends to keep us grounded. Back in the 1970’s when I was a child, my Nanny and Papa Swann got a new car- a big shiny red 1974 Cadillac. It was so pretty and much admired all around, as not many people we knew had a car that nice. Word got out in the community that they would be driving it to church on Sunday morning. 
Sunday morning arrived, and we gathered to worship our Lord and Savior. It was a beautiful sunny day. After the last amen, church let out. I walked outside with my Nanny, and people were all congratulating her on the new car. She graciously thanked them. As we walked toward their shiny red Cadillac, a crowd had gathered around. Friends and family yelled out: “Coy and Lorene, congratulations on the new car!” “It’s a beauty!” “Now, y’all don’t go getting above your raisin’!” “Y’all will be too good to talk to us with a car that nice!” “My, my, what a beautiful car! I’m so proud for you.” “Let’s get a closer look at it!”
They made way for us to get to the car, and Papa and Nanny were smiling ear to ear. Nanny said, “Do y’all want to see the inside?” And she opened the door. As we were all looking at the beautiful shiny red leather interior, our eyes came to rest on the front seat. What is that? Right on top of the beautiful shiny red leather of the front seat was something brown… Is that what I think it is? On my, it is…It’s a big pile of pooh perched right on the front seat!
My Nanny and Papa hooted with laughter, and the whole group did too, at the sight of a pile of pooh on the seat of the big red Cadillac. Their friends celebrated with them, congratulated them, and with humor let them know to “not get above their raisin.’” And thankfully, it was plastic pooh. Please enjoy this recipe that was served at every church dinner.
-Danna Standridge, Author of What’s Cooking with Danna, Y’all? and Happiness is Homemade Y’all! Danna will be on the ALFA Farmers Celebrity Chef Stage at the Celebrate the Family Expo on September 12, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. For speaking engagements and cooking demonstrations, email [email protected]. Join her in the kitchen on Facebook @DannaSwannStandridge and YouTube @dannastandridge8749.
Traditional Southern Deviled Eggs
“You will find these on many-a-Southern table. They are gone in a hurry. Don’t dilly-dally or you won’t get any.”
Ingredients:
- 6 boiled eggs
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Boil eggs. Peel. Slice in half lengthwise. Remove yolks to a mixing bowl. With a fork, mash the yolks. Add all the ingredients to the yolks. Stir until smooth. Taste and adjust to your liking. Add a spoonful to each egg white. Garnish with paprika. Serve. Hint: If you are not ready to serve right away, or need to make it a day ahead, store the yolks separately from the whites. On the day of your meal, assemble them.
