After the church service,the family will gather to share memories and a meal. The bucolic setting in which the home place is nestled will entice many to stay and visit just a little longer than originally planned, because it's hard to say goodbye.
The food will be brought in one or two dishes at a time. Each prepared with love. It will appear to be more food than the family could possibly eat, but there will be few leftovers. The cast of characters will include fried chicken, potato salad, fresh vegetables in a rainbow of colors, and desserts that will tempt everyone to just skip the "real food" altogether.
In an attempt to inject a bit of levity into this otherwise dismal day, I have decided to share with you the dish that I prepared. My mom has fixed this dish on such occasions for as long as I can remember. It's one of my favorites.
5 Bean Salad
Sorry the recipe ran together - I fought this thing one too many times, and I finally gave up!
1 can french cut green beans 1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can LeSeur peas 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 can wax beans 1 1/2 cups sugar
1 can baby butter beans 1 cup vinegar
1 can wax beans 1/2 cup oil
1 can white shoe peg corn Salt & Pepper to taste
1 small jar pimentos
Drain canned ingredients and empty into a large bowl.
Stir in chopped onion and green pepper.
Add salt and pepper.
Combine sugar, vinegar and oil in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling.
Did I tell you how much I like this set of salt and pepper shakers?? Are you still reading this recipe?
Pour the heated mixture over the vegetables. Stir well. Season with additional salt and pepper. I use more pepper than salt.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours. This will give the flavors a chance to blend.
Serve cold. Perfect for an outside meal on a 95 degree day.
If you leave a comment today, please tell me what your go-to dish is when you need to prepare funeral food. I am curious to see if different foods are customary in different parts of the country, or, if it's mostly the same throughout. Thanks.