Dede Parrish, pastor serving St. Paul and Beulah United Methodist churches in Mathews County, has been a minister for 22 years but a connoisseur of good food for much longer; her love of cooking goes back as far as she can remember.

Dede grew up in New Kent County where she says her mother, Beth Mills, taught her everything she knows about cooking. “She was not only a very good cook but also operated the Salt and Pepper Catering business, which started by cooking for things at church and then she branched out to making wedding cakes and taking orders for special dishes. Mother also liked working outdoors and so did my sisters who have no interest in cooking, and when she was working in the yard she would ask that I fix dinner. Mother has retired now but my niece has taken over.” 

Dede entered her first year of college majoring in business thinking she might become a caterer. However, “the Lord called me.” She received her bachelor’s degree in divini...