Lee Smith's Dimestore: Chapter Summary

In Dimestore, Lee Smith shares many stories about her parents. The chapter, “Recipe Box”, focuses on Lee’s mother, Gig Smith. Smith tells us that Gig had many recipes for Appalachian dishes like venison bean soup and meat loaf. Some of these recipes were cooked for her family; some were cooked for social events. Gig herself couldn’t eat rich foods, however, she cooked for her family every day. Smith’s father never failed to praise her meals. Gig grew up on Chincoteague an island off the coast of Virginia; therefore she had many recipes for seafood dishes. The recipes for many fancy desserts, such as Lady Baltimore Cake, were passed down to Gig by wealthy family members. Lee’s favorite was the spicy pimiento cheese. Which was a simple dish that