He had a life-long love affair with deviled eggs, his homemade canned fig preserves, and buttermilk served in martini glasses garnished with cornbread. --Obituary from Gulfport, Mississippi

So-called funeral food is having a moment. Comforting casseroles; jugs of sweet tea; creamy, cheesy potatoes--all these foods provide sympathy and sustenance for the bereaved. The Southern Sympathy Cookbook includes unexpectedly humorous obituaries and anecdotes alongside staples of Southern funerals such as:

• Three Bean Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette
• Fried Chicken
• Pulled Pork with Homemade Barbecue Sauce
• Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls

Whether feeding a congregation, delivering a meal to a friend in need, or cooking with weekday leftovers in mind, home cooks will embrace these recipes, guaranteed to comfort and to please a crowd.