Gracious hospitality is also associated with the South and one of the Southern cooks' greatest pleasures is cooking for others outside the family--church dinners, those in need, those in mourning, those whose menu is limited (by illness, for example), entertaining guests at home or, going all out on an open-house during the Holidays.  No one ever dropped by our house at mealtime without Mama setting another plate on the table.  And no one ever dropped by at any other time without being offered cookies, a cold or hot drink or, a snack.  Mama's hospitality was put to the test shortly after she and my (step)Dad were married.  The custom in that part of the Midwest was to give the newlyweds a shivaree shortly after they returned from their honeymoon.  A shivaree is a "serenade" to the newly married couple by banging on pots and pans during the middle of the night.  Custom was that the serenaders would then be invited into the house for some snacks.  Mama had planned and prepared for this--we all had on new pajamas and, there was food for the neighbors who were expected.  Several nights went by with no shivaree.  Finally Mama and Daddy decided it wasn't going to happen so we ate the food and Mama told us it was time to put our new PJ's in the wash and wear our old ones.  Well, sure enough, the first night in our old pajamas we were awakened by the sound of banging on pots and pans as well as a few gunshots thrown in for good measure.  As was the custom, the "serenaders" were invited in but all Mama had to serve them was cold cereal and milk with a bit of bread and jam.  It was hard for Mama not to be able to extend the hospitality that she had planned but she did the best with what she had and everyone had a good time.  It was a story Mama told a number of times while I was growing up...