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Bessie's Table: Appalachian Stories and Recipes
A word from Bessie
Even though I lived my Appalachian life simple, I did so with love. I adored my little world. I didn’t just care for my kinfolk—those boardinghouse friends of mine were treated like blood just the same.
They used to say about me, “If you ever want a taste of heaven, just pull up a seat at Bessie’s table.”
And if you’re wonderin’ what they meant… well, come see for yourself.
There’s plenty of stories left from those days. If you’ve a mind to hear ’em, step on into 1954. It ain’t as long as this tale, but it’s just as full.
You up for a story?
Not a novel—but a short piece. Another chapter or two… and a handful of recipes to boot.
Go on—pull up a chair. Rest your bones.
And get yourself another taste.
A taste of heaven… at Bessie’s Table.
In 1954 Appalachian Ohio, Bessie Dearth does what women like her have always done—she keeps moving.
Her second husband is three days in the ground. The boarders still need feeding. The babies still need rocking. And the women who loved her best have driven across Ohio to stand beside her—with a stack cake and forty years of shared grief.
Bessie’s Table is a short novel and recipe collection told through five voices—Bessie, her daughter Anna, and the women who show up when it matters most. Together they cook, cry, confess, and feed anyone who pulls up a chair.
Woven through every chapter are the real Appalachian recipes that carried them—deviled eggs made with bacon grease, chicken and dumplins, dried apple stack cake, chocolate gravy and flitters, salmon stew, and black walnut spice cake.
Because at Bessie’s table, food isn’t decoration—it’s how love gets said out loud.
Book Two of the Women of Blackwater County series. This is a companion story and can be read as a standalone, though it is best enjoyed after Book One.
Other books by this
Run, Girls — A memoir of an Appalachian family in crisis
Where the Mountains Whisper — A novel
The Bible of Blackwater County
Even though I lived my Appalachian life simple, I did so with love. I adored my little world. I didn’t just care for my kinfolk—those boardinghouse friends of mine were treated like blood just the same.
They used to say about me, “If you ever want a taste of heaven, just pull up a seat at Bessie’s table.”
And if you’re wonderin’ what they meant… well, come see for yourself.
There’s plenty of stories left from those days. If you’ve a mind to hear ’em, step on into 1954. It ain’t as long as this tale, but it’s just as full.
You up for a story?
Not a novel—but a short piece. Another chapter or two… and a handful of recipes to boot.
Go on—pull up a chair. Rest your bones.
And get yourself another taste.
A taste of heaven… at Bessie’s Table.
In 1954 Appalachian Ohio, Bessie Dearth does what women like her have always done—she keeps moving.
Her second husband is three days in the ground. The boarders still need feeding. The babies still need rocking. And the women who loved her best have driven across Ohio to stand beside her—with a stack cake and forty years of shared grief.
Bessie’s Table is a short novel and recipe collection told through five voices—Bessie, her daughter Anna, and the women who show up when it matters most. Together they cook, cry, confess, and feed anyone who pulls up a chair.
Woven through every chapter are the real Appalachian recipes that carried them—deviled eggs made with bacon grease, chicken and dumplins, dried apple stack cake, chocolate gravy and flitters, salmon stew, and black walnut spice cake.
Because at Bessie’s table, food isn’t decoration—it’s how love gets said out loud.
Book Two of the Women of Blackwater County series. This is a companion story and can be read as a standalone, though it is best enjoyed after Book One.
Other books by this
Run, Girls — A memoir of an Appalachian family in crisis
Where the Mountains Whisper — A novel
The Bible of Blackwater County
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2026
About the author
Jenny Cafaro
9 books62 followersI’m Jenny Cafaro, an award-winning Appalachian author whose stories are rooted in the mountains, people, and traditions of eastern Kentucky, where I was raised.
I write emotionally rich Appalachian historical fiction about resilience, faith, family, hardship, and the extraordinary strength of ordinary people. My stories give voice to those whose lives might otherwise be forgotten, particularly the women and families who endured poverty, injustice, heartbreak, and unimaginable circumstances with courage and determination.
My novel The Bible of Blackwater County received the Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Historical Fiction, earned an IPPY Medal, and received a “GET IT” recommendation from Kirkus Reviews. The novel has reached thousands of readers through Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, where my books have collectively accumulated more than 20 million pages read.
My published works include Run, Girls, which also received a gold IPPY award, Readers’ Favorite gold award and was Kirkus recommended, Where the Mountains Whisper, Mahala of Blackwater County, and other stories set in the fictional Appalachian community of Blackwater County.
My historical fiction explores the complexities of human nature, the bonds of family, and the difficult choices people make when survival and conscience collide.
Before becoming an author, I built a career in nursing, eventually becoming a Director of Nursing. My experiences caring for people, listening to their stories, and witnessing both suffering and remarkable resilience have profoundly influenced the characters I create.
Although I’ve called western North Carolina home for nearly three decades, the mountains of eastern Kentucky have never left me. Their history, their language, their people, and their enduring spirit live in the pages of my books.
I believe the most powerful stories aren’t always about the people history remembers. Sometimes, they’re about the people history forgot.
I write emotionally rich Appalachian historical fiction about resilience, faith, family, hardship, and the extraordinary strength of ordinary people. My stories give voice to those whose lives might otherwise be forgotten, particularly the women and families who endured poverty, injustice, heartbreak, and unimaginable circumstances with courage and determination.
My novel The Bible of Blackwater County received the Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Historical Fiction, earned an IPPY Medal, and received a “GET IT” recommendation from Kirkus Reviews. The novel has reached thousands of readers through Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, where my books have collectively accumulated more than 20 million pages read.
My published works include Run, Girls, which also received a gold IPPY award, Readers’ Favorite gold award and was Kirkus recommended, Where the Mountains Whisper, Mahala of Blackwater County, and other stories set in the fictional Appalachian community of Blackwater County.
My historical fiction explores the complexities of human nature, the bonds of family, and the difficult choices people make when survival and conscience collide.
Before becoming an author, I built a career in nursing, eventually becoming a Director of Nursing. My experiences caring for people, listening to their stories, and witnessing both suffering and remarkable resilience have profoundly influenced the characters I create.
Although I’ve called western North Carolina home for nearly three decades, the mountains of eastern Kentucky have never left me. Their history, their language, their people, and their enduring spirit live in the pages of my books.
I believe the most powerful stories aren’t always about the people history remembers. Sometimes, they’re about the people history forgot.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 26, 2026
Great recipes
I love old family recipes, recipes the kind my grandmother would make. I love to feed my family and plan to try them all at my table with my family. Loved the stories and that we got to spend a little more time with Bessie and Goldie. Such a fun book!!
I love old family recipes, recipes the kind my grandmother would make. I love to feed my family and plan to try them all at my table with my family. Loved the stories and that we got to spend a little more time with Bessie and Goldie. Such a fun book!!
September 18, 2026
★★★★★
“Bessie’s Table: Appalachian Stories and Recipes” is a beautiful blend of food, storytelling, and heritage. What makes this book especially enjoyable is the way recipes and personal stories come together to create a strong sense of place and community.
I loved the feeling of tradition throughout the book. The recipes are more than instructions for preparing food—they feel connected to memories, family gatherings, and the everyday experiences that make regional cooking so meaningful. The Appalachian setting adds another wonderful layer, giving the collection a distinctive character and sense of history.
The stories make the cookbook particularly engaging. They invite you to slow down, appreciate where recipes come from, and think about the people and traditions behind the meals. At the same time, the recipes provide plenty of inspiration for bringing those comforting flavors into your own kitchen.
This is the kind of cookbook that can be enjoyed even when you are not cooking. It feels like a keepsake celebrating community, heritage, and the simple pleasure of sharing food around a table.
Overall, “Bessie’s Table” is a charming and memorable collection. Five stars for its heartfelt storytelling, culinary heritage, and wonderful celebration of Appalachian food and community!
“Bessie’s Table: Appalachian Stories and Recipes” is a beautiful blend of food, storytelling, and heritage. What makes this book especially enjoyable is the way recipes and personal stories come together to create a strong sense of place and community.
I loved the feeling of tradition throughout the book. The recipes are more than instructions for preparing food—they feel connected to memories, family gatherings, and the everyday experiences that make regional cooking so meaningful. The Appalachian setting adds another wonderful layer, giving the collection a distinctive character and sense of history.
The stories make the cookbook particularly engaging. They invite you to slow down, appreciate where recipes come from, and think about the people and traditions behind the meals. At the same time, the recipes provide plenty of inspiration for bringing those comforting flavors into your own kitchen.
This is the kind of cookbook that can be enjoyed even when you are not cooking. It feels like a keepsake celebrating community, heritage, and the simple pleasure of sharing food around a table.
Overall, “Bessie’s Table” is a charming and memorable collection. Five stars for its heartfelt storytelling, culinary heritage, and wonderful celebration of Appalachian food and community!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2026
Delicious
A great book to fill in the gaps after reading the Bible of Blackwater. I want to try some of her recipes too.
A great book to fill in the gaps after reading the Bible of Blackwater. I want to try some of her recipes too.
April 7, 2026
This isn’t just a story about Bessie and a funeral. It’s a whole feeling. This book isn’t selling recipes. It’s bringing back a time when people actually cooked, prayed, and cared. When I started this book, I expected to read about a woman who had been run out of town and lived the rest of her life in shame. Instead, I came away understanding the girl who learned how to love. Not just a man who gave her a good life, a daughter who had always been there, or a God who had forgiven her, but a woman who finally learned to love herself - and showed it by loving everyone else. I’m excited to try some of these vintage recipes. I’ve always wanted to make cornbread that didn’t come from a box. But the recipes aren’t the main dish. They’re just the icing on the cake.
October 1, 2026
Can't wait to try these recipes!
I wish I could have eaten at her table. All the love and thoughts she put into each dish. All the recipes were made with just simple foods.I l also loved the stories she told about each dish and what it meant to her and her family. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
I wish I could have eaten at her table. All the love and thoughts she put into each dish. All the recipes were made with just simple foods.I l also loved the stories she told about each dish and what it meant to her and her family. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
April 28, 2026
Good supplement to the “Bible of Blackwater County”
This short book ties up all the main characters nicely. The recipes are a bonus, but I’d really like to know how much strawberries for the rhubarb pie - they’re not listed in the recipe but are mentioned in the “notes.”
This short book ties up all the main characters nicely. The recipes are a bonus, but I’d really like to know how much strawberries for the rhubarb pie - they’re not listed in the recipe but are mentioned in the “notes.”
June 14, 2026
A quick and easy read, make sure to read the Bible of Blackwater first. Well written and enjoyed the extra glimpse into Bessie’s life.
Interesting how food - the act of making a certain meal, a specific smell, eating something with family, can hold so many memories and connections.
Interesting how food - the act of making a certain meal, a specific smell, eating something with family, can hold so many memories and connections.
August 29, 2026
strong women cooking in spite of all of the catastrophes
I intend to make some of these recipes. The story reminds me so much of my ancestors they were not from Appalachia., But the women were strong and had wonderful recipes
I intend to make some of these recipes. The story reminds me so much of my ancestors they were not from Appalachia., But the women were strong and had wonderful recipes
May 24, 2026
A short follow up to The Bible of Blackwater County. It's mostly recipes. Disappointing!
June 15, 2026
Interesting recipes
July 26, 2026
Good combination of stories and recipes.
May 31, 2026
it’s a good, if a little convoluted story
The recipes are quaint and seemingly original. I’ll never make them, but it was fun to read. And it’s a short book.
The recipes are quaint and seemingly original. I’ll never make them, but it was fun to read. And it’s a short book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews