I think the very first time I tasted that awesome dish was not long after we moved to Jackson, Georgia from Washington. Some of my parents’ co-workers had alerted them to Fresh Air BBQ, and so off we went one evening to sample that new dish. I’d never tasted barbecue before but found myself loving the saucy flavor. Years later, as a pre-teen, we went to our annual family reunion in Crawfordville. My mother’s parents had prepared barbecue pork with some Brunswick stew and, yes, I’d grown accustomed to it by then, but I wanted our usual covered dish items. We missed the potato salad, fried chicken, deviled eggs and so, my two brothers and I walked away from the Ogletree tables and moved over into another family’s gathering. We were greeted, served the customary dishes we wanted, but one or two people did ask us exactly who we were related to as we filled our plates. My smart brothers mentioned just the first name of one of our uncles as we hurried down the line. Don’t think my parents asked us why we were dining off to ourselves that day though.  Whew!  They did make us wait an hour before we were allowed to remove our shirts and shorts we wore over swimsuits so we could go hop in the lake.

  Another time in Crawfordville, my Mother’s sweet Mom made turtle stew! It didn’t taste like the Brunswick stew I’d later come to love but it was passable.  Of course I didn’t know we were dining on that creature until the meal was over! My first father-in-law made rabbit stew and that actually tasted good too. I don’t think he ever tried to barbecue any rabbits though. I may have told him that I decided not to eat rabbit anymore after I found they could be infected with a strange creature he called a wolf.

 I moved on up to McDonough and found more wonderful restaurants that serve the dish that was now a favorite of mine. And I didn’t have to drive for half an hour or so to enjoy my craving. Of course I also discovered another fine group of cooks at Mt. Bethel, but it was a while before they veered off from the covered dish favorites into barbecue. Not sure I’d dined on any Brunswick stew there before our latest meal, but the meats and other side dishes all taste perfect!

  We actually use some meals as a way to raise money for Mt. Bethel. Last year a couple made a nice donation in memory of his parents, Mt. Bethel members, before they left for heaven. We chose to use the funds to have the beautiful windows in the sanctuary upgraded. When the window workers got busy, they discovered all of the glass was about to cave in! The next financial issue was raised was when we had to replace some AC units. So, it was decided we needed to have a popular fundraiser that we all enjoy. We enjoyed a meal of awesome barbecue pork, baked beans, Brunswick stew and slaw early in November and, although it was donations only, we raised over $3900 for our wonderful church. The Sisters in Christ baked cakes and they netted over $900 for those delicious goods. Norman and I decided to bring our tasty food home rather than dine at Mt. Bethel in case the rain decided to arrive too soon. (I learned from Norman’s doctor that a wheelchair can flip over in the rain!)

  I thought it was neat that as I trolled Facebook, I saw two of our Methodist brothers holding up the sign advertising our latest fundraiser as they stood by Highway 81 East in their jeans, jackets and cowboy hats. Another GREAT day at Mt. Bethel!