As he reflects on the beginnings of his cooking history, Edward Volley, 43, of Americus thinks of his mother, Ruby Mac and grandmother, Mrs. Arthur Lee Davis.

“My family always taught me to be responsible for myself. I was the baby of the family and all my other siblings wanted to take care of me, but I wanted to take care of myself,” Volley said, explaining the need for more discipline in the younger generation today.

“Whether it’s cooking or whatever you do in life, you have to take the responsibility to prepare yourself for self-readiness. Many of the children of today depend on their parents to cook for them,” he said.

Volley’s favorite dishes are country fried steak and chicken. As a matter of fact, he will go to his sister’s house and cook for her and her family.

“They like his country fried chicken,” said Volley’s wife Naomi as she describes her husband as one who loves to hang out in the kitchen. “I cook homemade rolls, cakes and pies and he cooks the rest. But I can cook anything; I used to work at Stewart’s Cafeteria, London Beef Eater and the Windsor,” she said with a smile.

Among Volley’s specialties are the soups he prepares during chilly winter months.

“I can make any soup of any kind. There isn’t a a soup I can’t make. They are all homemade, not from the can,” Volley said with a laugh.

Among his list of home-made soups are vegetable, chicken noodle, and his thick and creamy beef soup.

“I make chili; my chili is so chunky. I take my kidney beans, brown my ground beef, add chili sauce and an onion gravy mix. It is too good,” he said confidently.

Other dishes which Volley likes to prepare are taco salads, along with other southern recipes such as potato salad and collard greens.

“I just love to cook. I enjoy cooking, dancing and singing. In that way, you burn off the calories. You know what I’m saying,” he said with a giggle.

On a serious note, Volley enjoys cooking for his wife and family members.

“It makes me feel happy when my family members enjoy my food. I feel like I have spent a great deal of time in the kitchen, and my parents taught me to be responsible and be able to feed myself. Cooking can be a real experience. There is nothing you can’t do, if you set your mind to just do it,” he said.