Smokin’Joe Butter Beans

For some reason, most folks called my grandmother “Blossom.” But my sisters and I don’t remember her as flowery. She was a big woman who filled a room with her voice. Although she clearly loved all her 44 grandchildren, she wasn’t about to repeat things she told us to do—or not do.

If she had any soft spots, they were her vegetable garden and her kitchen. When she was in either place, we would never think of entering without asking her permission. This was tough on us when it was co